The struggling Priestley Centre for the Arts is to receive help from an unexpected quarter - Bradford's punk community.

Veteran rockers The Negatives are putting together a six-band benefit show - called Punk for Priestley - to raise funds for the historic theatre.

The Negatives first put Bradford on the punk map in the late 1970s, but despite building up a cult following the band split within a couple of years.

Drummer Tino Palmer, a confectionery salesman from Low Moor, is now the group's only remaining original member.

He said: "The idea came to us when we were rehearsing. We'd read about the Priestley's problems in the Telegraph & Argus. While I don't go to the Priestley very often, I do sometimes go and it's the kind of place we need to keep open.

"I thought about doing something to help but was a bit worried the Priestley might not want anything to do with us, because we're not exactly high brow.

"But I could not have been more wrong. We've spoken to them and they said they'd love it. Now we're trying to get together five or six bands to raise some money."

Priestley Centre director Christiaan Hohenzollern, a former professional ballet dancer, said he was delighted by The Negatives' support.

"It is fantastic. Nobody here has a problem with punk - the ethos of the Priestley Centre is that it is for everybody. It doesn't matter if they've got safety pins in their nose or iron rivets coming out of their neck!

"I once danced in one of Toyah Willcox's videos and I'm still quite heavily into her music. I think anyone in their mid-30s has some punk history!"

The Negatives aim to have the Punk for Priestley gig ready for Hallowe'en. Any group interested in taking part should call Tino on (01274) 413172 before October 30.

l The Priestley has raised around £7,000 in just two weeks towards the £10,000 it needs to raise by the end of October, to avoid liquidation.

Mr Hohenzollern said: "We are hopeful that we will raise enough, but time is running out. We have less than two weeks."

The Telegraph & Argus Save the Priestley campaign led to queues forming around the block for the theatre's recent production of The Cherry Orchard. And further funds were raised by its Saturday Spectacular show at the weekend. There have also been donations, including an anonymous one of £1,000.

A costume sale is planned for this week, on a date yet to be set.