A TOP level meeting has been called by Burnley MP Peter Pike over Burnley Youth Theatre's "appalling raw deal" in having its lottery bid rejected.

Members of the theatre were shocked and dismayed to learn that their plans for a £3million arts centre had been rejected - again.

Now theatre director Mr Pike said: "After further discussions I have asked the Arts Council at national level to meet a delegation from Burnley Youth Theatre including Roger Ellis, chief executive of Burnley Council, and myself.

"We all agree that the youth theatre has had an appalling raw deal in having their lottery bid rejected. The Burnley Youth Theatre does an excellent job and we want to put the case for a rethink. "This is just one step in the battle - if necessary our next step will be to ask to meet the minister."

Burnley Youth Theatre, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, had applied for £450,000 to develop working drawings for the theatre, but the Arts Council would only permit the theatre to bid for £70,000 - then it has rejected that application.

The building at Queens Park Road was only a temporary wooden structure when it was built. Now it leaks and the walls are caving in.

The youth theatre has spent more than two years working on lottery bid applications, each time providing more information and modifying plans to meet the Arts Council's requirements.

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