A state-of-the-art theatre and cinema could be built on the banks of the River Kennet in Marlborough.

Plans for the 300-seat venue have been unveiled but a trust must raise £4.5 million over the next five years for the project to materialise.

The Riverbank will also house a studio, with seating for 70, a restaurant and bar, a foyer for exhibitions and conference facilities.

It will provide the town and the surrounding Kennet Valley with facilities for all types of performing arts, films and creative arts.

It follows eight years of work by a group of residents tired of travelling to theatres or cinemas in Swindon or Salisbury.

They formed a charitable body called the Kennet Valley Arts Trust (KVAT) in 1995 and have since secured a site for the venue.

Musician Jools Holland, actors Nigel Havers and George Baker, design guru Sir Terence Conran and racing magnate Robert Sangster are just some of the high profile personalities who have given their support.

Trust chairman Rosie Hill said: "We have had to be very tenacious over the years to arrive at this point.

"We've always had tremendous support from the people of Marlborough and I firmly believe we can now go on and build our own venue here on this wonderful riverbank site."