MALVERN people will be fully consulted over any proposals for a commercial takeover of the town's theatre complex, says a Malvern Hills District Council officer.

Senior council officers seem likely to meet representatives of the Ambassador Theatre Group later this month to discuss the possibility.

The suggestion that Malvern Theatres could be run as a commercial concern arose out of MHDC's Best Value review, which requires it to look at all its spending. The council funded the theatre to the tune of £204,000 in this financial year.

The Surrey-based Ambassador Theatre Group runs 18 theatres in the West End and elsewhere, including the world-renowned Donmar Warehouse.

Sharon Gray, MHDC's head of tourism and economic development, said local people and theatre groups will be consulted over the proposals.

"Once there is something on the table that we can go out to consultation with, we would do so, but we are not at that stage yet."