A £500,000 RESCUE package to save the Consett Empire looks set to be granted.

Derwentside District Council has revealed that more than £500,000 is needed to pay for the Victorian museum described as 'a jewel in the crown for County Durham.'

The Empire urgently needs electrical rewiring and a new roof. New laws mean work to make the place accessible for disabled must by completed by 2004.

The council plan to find the money through sales of assets in the coming year and from the general fund. A bid has also been lodged for a £50,000 grant from National Lottery agents Northern Arts and Friends of the Empire have pledged up to £20,000.

The rescue plan has already been approved the council's cabinet and was due to be considered by the overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday night.

Founder member of the Friends, Pat Bousted, said the Empire was of vital importance to Derwentside. She said: "If that place closed it would be like taking part of my life away.

"This is a lovely theatre and is well known in the art world, Ken Dodd even mentioned it in an interview recently. The feeling for it in the community is tremendous."

Leader of the council Alex Watson said: "It is a classic Victorian theatre and is important for the whole county. I would say it is a jewel in the crown.

"Attendance has gone up across the board at the place which shows how popular it is. The cabinet voted to approve the plan unanimously."

If the plan is approved some of the money will go towards decoration, renewing seating and front of house improvements.

The total cost of the work would be £502,825, although £67,750 for structural work is also recommended. Chairman of the scrutiny committee and leader of the opposition Derwentside Independents Bill Stockdale said he expected the committee to approve the scheme.

It would then need to be ratified by members of the cabinet once again in the coming weeks.