Most of UK's at risk theatres in north-west England

More than a third of under-threat theatres in the UK are in the north west of England, a heritage charity has revealed.

Theatres Trust, the national advice and advocacy body for the UK's theatres, has revealed the 39 venues at risk in this year's register, with 14 in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.

It said these are the theatres across the UK "threatened by a risk of closure, redevelopment or severe decay, but which had potential to be revived with the right support".

One of the latest additions to the register is Preston Guild Hall which opened in 1972, along with the The Forum in Barrow.

Preston Guild Hall complex comprises of the Grand Hall which has seen legendary acts play on stage from Led Zeppelin to The Jam - it used to host the UK Snooker Championships and also situated is the smaller Charter Theatre.

Preston's only professional theatre has been closed for seven years initially due to legal disputes but latterly due to Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) - the so-called crumbling concrete - in the roof.

The discovery of asbestos in Barrow's theatre has prompted demolition proposals.

However, Theatres Trust also reported that Abbeydale Picture House, Sheffield, and Leith Theatre, Edinburgh had been taken off its register.

Joshua McTaggart, the chief executive of the trust, celebrated the theatres that had been saved.

He added: "We are beginning to identify a potential trend for theatres built in the 70s added to our Theatres at Risk Register."

Six of the theatres at risk are in Lancashire, five in Greater Manchester and three are in Merseyside.

The included The Joe Longthorne Theatre on Blackpool North Pier, Tameside Hippodrome and Southport Garrick.

Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.