Worcester's only theatre will close at the end of the month despite a long-running campaign to save it.

More than 13,000 people signed a petition against the theatre's closure and playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn donated money to the theatre's fighting fund.

But the board of directors at the Swan Theatre have decided to close the venue after Worcester City Council withdrew its support grant of �83,000.

The council said it was forced to make cuts following the discovery of a deficit in its annual budget.

Sadly missed

Without the council's grant, the theatre, which employs 30 people, says it has no option but to close.

Chairman of the board of directors, Gerald Harris, said the theatre would be sadly missed.

"It continues to astonish me and the board that not withstanding the huge public support for the theatre, the council is prepared to ignore it and not give it any sort of priority," he said.

"I think we shan't really know how much we shall miss the theatre in Worcester until it is closed.

"This is a matter of great sadness to the board which was heartened by the huge amount of public support it received during the campaign to save the theatre."