Prince Charles has expressed his delight at efforts to save Harrogate's famous Royal Hall theatre.

The Prince, who is patron of the Royal Hall Restoration Trust, has welcomed a study to see if £8m could partially restore the 100-year-old crumbling building and reopen it for limited public use.

The cash has been pledged by the National Heritage Lottery Fund and Harrogate Borough Council.

Results of a study are expected to be announced within a fortnight.

In a letter to the council Prince Charles writes: "Having been concerned for some time that the marvellous theatre should be restored to its former glory and not be mothballed, or worse, lost as part of our national heritage, you will understand why I was greatly relieved to learn of Harrogate Council's decision to assist the process for the Hall's restoration.

"I am enormously grateful, therefore, to everyone who has made this possible.

"I have been told that the last months have been a nail-biting time for many and there is more work to be done, but I believe with this breakthrough a way forward has been heralded and, as Patron, I really could not be more delighted. I can only pray we are not far off seeing restoration work commence and I am sure Harrogate Council will do all they can to ensure this happens."

Mrs Lilian Mina, chairman of the restoration trust, said they were delighted at the prince's ongoing efforts aimed at saving the Royal Hall and bringing it back into productive use.

"Although these are relatively early days and much remains to be done the trustees are very optimistic that the final outcome of the study will produce a project which will save the Royal Hall and provide this precious building with a useful future," she said.

It is now three years since major faults were discovered in the building which was partially closed and later fully closed to the public part of an internal ceiling collapsed.