Theatre fire hits community

The theatre was renovated by volunteers

Managers at a Derbyshire theatre destroyed by fire at the weekend are meeting with insurers in a bid to secure the venue's future.

The fire at the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton started in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The converted church was almost fully booked until the end of 2005 by local amateur theatre groups.

The theatre's director Leon Wade fears many are going to be disappointed and will have to make alternative arrangements.

He said: "Obviously all the societies know what has happened and obviously they are devastated too.

"Some of them are seeking temporary accommodation for their productions and some of them are meeting this week to discuss what to do.

"But we are reassuring them all that we are going to get this back on its feet."

Investigations are continuing into its cause.