SAFEGUARDS will be put in place to preserve the historic integrity of Darlington Civic Theatre if it is taken over by a private owner.

Members of Darlington Borough Council's economy and environment scrutiny committee were reassured that measures were being planned that would prevent any private owner carrying out unfavourable works.

The concerns were raised by Councillor Ron Lewis at the meeting held yesterday.

However, Mike Crawshaw, a council assistant director in leisure services, said the authority was looking to let the building on a long-term lease rather than sell it completely.

He said: "We recognise that the Civic is a key part of the town's heritage. We don't want to see it turned into a pub or something."

The council is being forced to cut its subsidy to the theatre as it tries to trim £22m from its £107m annual budget because of Government spending cuts.

The council plans to put the theatre on the market next month.

Qdos Entertainment, which runs the annual pantomime at the Civic, is favourite to take it over.

Committee chairwoman, Councillor Dot Long, welcomed the news.