FILM star Edward Fox joined the fight to restore a crumbling North Yorkshire theatre and told campaigners it must not be allowed to bite the dust.

Fox and members of his family travelled from his home in the South to back an £11.2m restoration scheme to save Harrogate's Royal Hall.

His great grandfather, Samson Fox, who became an internationally famous industrialist, was Mayor of Harrogate from 1889-92.

Edward Fox was chief guest at a charity lecture to raise money for the Royal Hall in which the upper circle has been closed because of safety fears.

He told the audience: "This building must not be allowed to be lost."

Harrogate Civic Society chairman Lilian Mina, who is spearheading the fundraising, said Fox had pledged to help in any way he could. The 100-year-old Royal Hall, which is a listed building, is in great danger of being lost, she said.

"The concrete which makes up much of its interior is crumbling away. Unless urgent and major action is taken the building will, within a few years, become totally unsafe and will have to be permanently closed."

A bid has already been made to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £8.4m, leaving about £2.8m to be raised locally.

In true Harrogate fashion, the Royal Hall proceedings were followed by afternoon tea at the Hotel Majestic, where Fox chatted informally to those keen to see the theatre restored.

Fox, who has appeared in 25 major films since the 1960s, said he had accepted the invitation to return to his family roots because he was very proud of Samson Fox's career.

Members of the Fox family also went to see Samson Fox's former home at Grove House, Skipton Road.