THE curtain has gone up on more than £15,000 worth of car park improvements at a Clacton theatre.

Theatregoers at the West Cliff no longer have to worry about where to leave their cars after the cash boost for parking, giving a boost to the main summer season.

Trustees from Clacton’s West Cliff Theatre were given £10,000 from Essex County Council and £5,000 from Tendring Council to fix the car park, which was littered with potholes.

The rest of the money was provided by the Friends of the West Cliff Theatre.

Now the site is topped with a new surface and has designated parking bays.

Theatre chairman Norman Jacobs said: “The old car park was in a dreadful state and we were even in danger of the insurance company closing it to the public.

“When we try to get people to come to the theatre the state of the car park had made it tough.

“But hopefully this will improve things and it is just in time for our summer show, which begins on Thursday.”