Felixstowe's Spa Theatre could remain open to the public until at least January 2013 if talks between the local authority and the venue's current operator are successfully concluded.

Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) has agreed it will aim to end its existing agreement with Openwide Coastal early next year while it looks to secure the theatre's long-term future.

In December, the council had said that it could no longer afford to subsidise the Spa Theatre, which currently receives GBP250,000 a year and needs GBP3m to be spent on upgrading facilities.

SCDC cabinet member for leisure and economic development Geoff Holdcroft said: "I hope we can reach agreement with Openwide so it will remain open until the conclusion of next Christmas's programme."

Details: www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk