SUPPORTERS of the appeal to save Swanage's historic bandstand have now raised more than £51,000.

Friends of Swanage Bandstand (FOSB) chairman Alan Houghton presented council officials with a cheque during a ceremony at the site on Wednesday (May 9)

Alan told the Daily Echo: "The council is now set to meet with us to finalise the specifics of the bandstand, ready for going out for tender.

"After it goes out for tender, that is when we will start the application for Heritage Lottery funding."

Early in 2017 Swanage Town Council announced the bandstand may have to be filled in by the end of that August, if no proposals for the site were forthcoming.

The roof of the bandstand was declared structurally unsound during refurbishment works in 2012, which had been taking pace to address series storm damage it had previously sustained.

News the bandstand was facing its final curtain caused public outcry locally, and after more than 200 people attended a crisis meeting, the FOSB was established by Alan.

The town council agreed to match fund anything FOSB could raise, so that means the project now has more than £101,000 available.

Alan said: "We have now hit another financial target, I cannot thank our supporters enough.

"I'm thrilled we have achieved what we have, but we still need to raise more funding. We estimate another £50,000 is needed to complete the full restoration."

The next significant fundraising event is a sale, set for three days over the late May bank holiday weekend at the bandstand site.

Aland said: "This sale is taking place during the Purbeck Pirate Weekend, so we hope there will be lots of visitors.

"We still need more donated items for the sale though. If you can help please get in touch.

"Once again, I'd like to thank everyone fore their pledges so far. We only have 11 pledges outstanding."

To donate items for the sale, set for May 26-28, contact Alan Houghton, 3 Dingle Court, 29 DeMoulham Road, Swanage, BH19 1NT.

Call him on 01929 426 380.