LIGHT will be flooding back in to an iconic West Dorset theatre after its bosses exceeded their fundraising goal.

Managers from Lyric Theatre launched a campaign called #LetThereBeLight to raise around £10,000 to replace the main windows of the theatre’s auditorium.

But, aAfter a surge in donations from the public, almost £14,000 was raised, meaning that now all of the windows in the theatre on St Andrew’s Road can be replaced.

Donations flooded in from all over the world, including Canada and the USA, to help repair the much loved venue.

Many of the theatre's 12-foot high arched windows are currently boarded up but with the money secured, there is hope that work on them will start before the end of this year.

The theatre was bought in 2011 by local performer, Niki McCretton, who has lead the campaign.

She was delighted with the outcome of the fundraising and the impact the new windows will have on the area.

She said: “We had 150 donations on the campaign page and then we’ve had lots of other donations with people coming in with cheques or cash.

“We’ve had donations from some people who have never been before.

“It means that we can replace the windows, some of which have been boarded up for 40 years.

“It was built in 1747 and I don’t think it has had much money spent on it since then.”

As well as putting on performances, the theatre tries to host community groups, a function it will be able to fulfil more easily now with the new windows.

With donations coming in from across the Atlantic, Niki believes her touring over there as well as international performances at the theatre have meant that the word has spread of the theatre’s campaign.

As the campaign got underway, Niki didn’t know what to expect.

She said: “We were really nervous. It was extraordinary.

“It is going to look amazing. It is really going to improve the look of it.”

One of the main benefits the windows will bring will come when community groups want to use the space during the day.

Niki said: “At the moment we don’t have a lot of community things going on through the day because it's pitch black in there in the summer; it’s not very nice.”

The next step is for the team to go get quotes on the prices for the windows before going through planning as the theatre is a listed building.