PLANS to reopen a showpiece North-East arts complex have received a Government boost.

Arts Minister Kim Howells has confirmed that the Stockton Arc could receive extra Arts Council funding.

He announced more than £25m of backing for regional theatres last night - and said that the Arc could well be one venue to benefit.

The announcement was made in the House of Commons following a question from Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South.

She said the Arc closed last autumn ''in a most unfortunate way" and called for a safety net for "theatres which are untimely closed".

The minister said he was "abolutely certain" that a good case for extra financial help for the Arc had been put to the Arts Council.

"It will receive very sympathetic consideration," he said.

The theatre complex shut last October because the Arts Council refused to provide an extra £50,000 of funding that it needed at the time.

The MP says she is now hopeful the promises by the minister would guarantee at least £145,000 of extra funding, which could allow the theatre to reopen in October.

She hopes to get confirmation of the package tomorrow.

However, she said the £145,000 would only be "start-up funding" and not be enough to sustain the theatre in the long term.

''I will be asking the Arts Council, in the light of the announcement by the minister, what extra money there will be.

''I don't know exactly how much money we are going to get, but to ensure good theatre, which has a range of diverse plays, is a costly business - but a theatre funded well will ensure that people have hours of fun," said Ms Taylor.