COUNCIL bosses have offered to meet campaigners looking to safeguard the rundown former Empire Theatre in Burnley – but warned the repairs bill could reach £20million.

More than 1,300, led by punk icon Mike Hargreaves and theatre producers Steve and Gill Grist, have signalled their support to preserve the old venue, off Cow Lane.

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But town hall chiefs say that the repair bill in 1998 was £8.44million. With further deterioration, it could be as high as £15m-£20m at today’s prices, it has emerged.

Cllr Bea Foster, the executive member for leisure and culture for the borough council, said: “We are very concerned about the unsafe state of the former Burnley Empire Theatre building and the blight it places on the town centre.

“The council currently provides revenue support to Burnley Leisure to operate a range of facilities in the borough, including Burnley Mechanics Theatre and it is the council’s view that there is only market demand for one major theatre in the town.

“This, along with the council’s severe financial constraints, arising from austerity, mean the council would not be in a position to provide funding to the restoration of the building or the operation of a theatre in it.

“The council is happy to meet the Save The Empire Group to further discuss both the building and the council’s position.”

Mr Hargreaves, the lead singer of the Notsensibles and a Green Party parliamentary candidate at the last General Election, said: “This could be our last chance to save this Grade II Listed building for Burnley.”

The venue, which closed in 1995, was in the hands of the Lancashire Theatre Company, before they went bust, and is rated as the fourth most under-threat location by the national Theatres Trust.

Opened in 1894 and capable of holding 1,200 in its heyday, it has a 1911 interior modelled by the famous designer Bertie Crewe. Burnley MP Julie Cooper, historian Roger Frost and Bishop of Burnley Philip North are among those backing the preservation effort.