THE charity working to fund the restoration of Swanage Bandstand is now calling in the £38,000 pledged by supporters so far.

Friends of Swanage Bandstand members want to raise £160,000 towards the project - a target made easier following a recent £50,000 cash boost from Swanage Town Council (STC).

Alan Houghton, who established the friends group, said: “We are respectfully calling in the pledges made by all the fantastic people who had faith in our plan to restore our bandstand back to its original condition and colour.

“We have made so much progress very quickly and must keep momentum going.

“We are well on target but we now need more donations please no matter how small.

“What makes me so proud is the fact that most of this money is from local supporters, some of whom have even topped up their pledges - well done all of you.”

STC has given campaigners a year to raise the money needed so the conservation project can go ahead.

In February, this year, councillors said if interested parties failed to come forward with ideas for the town’s bandstand, it could have been filled in by the end of this summer.

The future of the bandstand hit the headlines early this year, when council officials proposed filling in the sunken site.

The bandstand’s roof was declared structurally unsafe during refurbishment works in 2012, which took place to address serious storm damage.

Alan said: “Now we have the total support of Swanage Town Council and charity status I would ask please, if possible, for cheques made payable to Friends of Swanage Bandstand, with stamped addressed envelopes.”

Send pledges, or new donations, to Alan Houghton, 3 Dingle Court, 29 De Moulham Road, Swanage BH19 1NT.

Contact Alan via al2lyho@talktalk.net or on 01929 426380.