A group of supporters of the Priestley Centre for the Arts has launched a rescue plan to save the theatre from closure.

The group, made up of former members and others involved in the Priestley, have presented a business plan to a bank and hope to secure a loan to pay off the £60,000 owed to creditors.

The Save the Priestley group wants to make the Bradford theatre more accessible to professional and amateur groups. It is making a public appeal to raise £20,000 to convert and modernise the theatre.

Group spokesman Thomas Sandford, pictured, a former Priestley Centre board member, said the aim was to provide a similar resource to Bradford's old Library Theatre.

"Since it closed the Priestley is the only affordable theatre available to amateur and community groups in the city. It's a vital resource for Bradford's cultural life," he said. "We want to reopen it as a centre for theatre companies and arts groups, providing performing space for hire and studios for rehearsals and classes. We'd move the wardrobe downstairs and convert the current wardrobe into office space and there would also be storage space."

Mr Sandford said the group had been working on the rescue plan for a month, before the announcement that the Priestley was going into voluntary liquidation.

"I stepped down from the board because I felt the rescue plan would create a conflict of interests," he said. "We've had discussions with the bank, which has asked not to be named at this stage, and shown that our business plan is economically viable.

"They haven't poured cold water over the idea but they want us to develop it. We need to show we can raise this cash, and that there is interest from theatre groups.

"For our plan to succeed it is important we hear from any groups interested in using the centre in its new form. We also need to raise a minimum of £20,000 for conversion work. We will make a public appeal once we have sorted out legal details.

"The centre would be run by a voluntary committee, with a paid administrator, someone trained in arts management, providing a presence there during the day. Ushers, front-of-house and bar staff would be volunteers."

The group aims to tackle the lack of security in the area, partly blamed for the Priestley's falling audience numbers, by looking into reduced rates for theatre-goers at the multi-storey car park on the Cineworld complex.

Priestley Centre board chairman Glenn Boldy said: "I haven't seen the details so can't comment on the plan but I am willing to talk to them or help.

"I'd like to see it become a more community-based theatre but it would need to be run by a different group of people from before."

For more information about the rescue plan visit www.savethepriestley.org.uk