Theatre launches appeal to keep the heating on

Trinity Theatre is a refurbished church that was established as a charitable arts hub in 1982

A theatre is appealing for further public donations to help repair its heating system.

Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is a refurbished church that became a charitable arts hub in 1982.

Managers said the theatre's heating system was "failing and won't last through the winter".

It needs to raise a further £37,000 to install a specialist energy efficient heating system, in addition to £25,000 already donated.

A theatre statement said: "We need your help to keep Trinity warm and heat the auditorium.

"Without effective heating, we will not be able to offer the warm sense of community to the wide spectrum of the local population who are welcomed though our doors every week."

An average of 90,000 people use the building every year, according to the theatre.

A failure of the heating system would "significantly affect the future social value that Trinity can create from community arts programmes, youth workshops, artistic programming, volunteering, social enterprise schemes", the theatre warned.