THE Savoy Theatre in Monmouth has been awarded a £90,000 lottery grant to help with refurbishments.

The theatre's trustees and director will use the money, which came from the lottery's People and Places programme, to upgrade and increase the number of toilets in the theatre.

When the project is complete, there will be six female toilets and baby changing facilities on the ground floor, in a new extension to the side of the theatre, as well as an accessible toilet.

The ground floor men’s toilets will also be upgraded.

Jane Harvey, chair of trustees, said she was delighted this long-planned improvement to the Savoy’s facilities can now get underway.

“We are so grateful to the National Lottery for their help with this project, which will be of real benefit to the people of Monmouth and surrounding areas," she said.

"We have already had tremendous community support for the project in the form of donations, including the proceeds of a half marathon run by Louise Utley, and in September the Savoy was very well supported as one of the good causes in Monmouth Waitrose’s green token scheme.

"We have just heard that our project has been chosen to be a Co-op Community Good Cause for 12 months, starting this month.

"This grant will enable us to provide a first class experience for everyone who comes along to the Savoy to see films, live shows and all of the other events that make a difference to the lives of the people of Monmouth.”