CAMPAIGNERS have reassured residents they are doing all they can to make sure a theatre stays in a Teesside town.

At a meeting of the Billingham Partnership Board on Monday, the committee provisionally agreed to demolish Billingham Forum and build on the town's John Whitehead Park.

The Forum site would be sold to a supermarket and the money generated from the sale would be used to fund the redevelopment of the town centre area.

This would be in the form of a development that would include a library, health centre, shops, ice rink and swimming pool. Bede College would also move to John Whitehead Park.

However, proposals put forward by the architect may still be changed by the board when they debate them during the next few months.

Kevin Bowler, chairman of the Save our Theatre group, reassured people living in the area that a final decision had not yet been taken and the group would do all it could to save the theatre.

He said: "Although the theatre would need about £1.8m to be completely refurbished, the group is committed to finding the money.

"I believe any supermarket wanting to buy the site should make a contribution to keep the theatre on behalf of the community."

The board has said that if the group came up with a workable business plan, they would back it.

Mr Bowler said: "We have not given up the fight. We have a very feasible plan and are a lot more confident after the support from the board.

"We are getting a presentation together to show to supermarkets interested in the site. We realise we have got to convince the supermarket to keep the theatre, but we do think it is viable."

The final decision on the development will be made by Stockton Borough Council.