A TRAVELLING theatre company's future in Rossendale is secure thanks to a lottery grant.

The Horse and Bamboo Theatre has been in Rossendale for 23 years and five years ago developed an arts centre in the former Liberal Club, Bacup Road, Waterfoot.

But today artistic director Bob Frith admitted the future of the centre had been in doubt because arts grants had been frozen for ten or more years.

But a new fund from the Regional Arts Lottery Programme, administered by the North West Arts Board, has just granted the company £23, 981 to help with organisational development.

And this means the company's horse-drawn travelling theatre group will be back on the road in October.

Bob said: "Closure fears were not very far away -- we were not so different from many arts organisations throughout the country.

Last year we got a 20 per cent increase in grant from Lancashire County Council and now we have had this good news. For several years we have only just been keeping our heads above water, but overnight that has changed.

"We cancelled the Spring tour, but now when we tour in October it will be with confidence."

He said the company would be taking its play The Girl Who Cut Flowers all over the country and this time it will have live music accompaniment thanks to the grant.

On Saturday the Horse and Bamboo is also holding a free Punch and Judy show in Rawtenstall at 10.30am, noon and 1.30pm and at the centre there will be activities throughout the day.

On Sunday there will be a youth theatre in Waterfoot at 12.30pm and a puppet workshop at 2pm.