SHOWBIZ stars and ordinary Swindonians are queuing up to support the £69,000 appeal to revamp Swindon's much-loved Arts Centre.

The newly-formed Friends of Swindon Arts Centre (FoSAC) has already raised more than £2,800 to improve the inside of the Devizes Road venue, with big showbiz names among those giving most generously.

Former Emerson Lake and Palmer percussionist Carl Palmer has helped drum up interest in the appeal by donating £150 towards a sponsored new seat in the venue's auditorium.

Comedian Dominic Holland raised more than just a laugh when he appeared at the Arts Centre last week, and agreed to give another £150 towards a new seat bearing his name.

And Swindon-born explorer David Hempleman-Adams, who once scaled the highest peaks in all seven continents, helped take the amount raised to new heights by sponsoring a seat.

Other big names contributing to the appeal include the late Ian Dury's backing band, The Blockheads, and singer-songwriter Dean Friedman.

But more than 150 ordinary Swindonians have also given the appeal a boost by each paying at least £12 to join FoSAC, and many are also keen to sponsor seats.

Arts Centre manager Clarry Bean said: "It's particularly touching that a number of people are considering funding a seat in memory of a family member who enjoyed visiting the Arts Centre."

The £69,000 appeal to revamp the inside of the venue is intended to coincide with a £665,000 extension to the building, work on which is due to start at the end of this month. Swindon Council will be building a new two-storey glass-roofed entrance to the centre, a new courtyard, box office, front of house and backstage lifts, and better backstage facilities for artists.

FoSAC wants to use the development and the interest it has generated in the Arts Centre to raise the £69,000 which would refurbish all the seats in the auditorium, replace all the venue's furniture, and redecorate.

Work on the external improvements will begin in earnest after May 26, and will reopen to the public in November

Anyone interest in sponsoring a seat or joining FoSAC should ring the Arts Centre on 01793 466565 or via the e-mail:

artscentre@swindon.gov.uk