A COMMUNITY group has begun the process of purchasing an iconic Ulverston building after a successful fundraising campaign.

Plans are in place to purchase the Roxy building after tens of thousands of pounds were raised by the community.

The fundraiser was set up by The Roxy Collective – a group of Ulverstonians formed in April with the aim of purchasing the Roxy building and maintaining the businesses which are already there; The Roxy Cinema, Laurel and Hardy Museum, U-Gym Ulverston and 808010 Productions.

Ulverston Town Council granted The Roxy Collective £50,000 towards the project, which is just over a quarter of the asking price.

And more than £30,000 was garnered through the group’s fundraising page, exceeding the target of £20,000.

Thanks to an outpouring of community support, the group has the funding needed to go ahead with the purchase of the building

READ MORE: Group bands together to purchase the Roxy building in Ulverston

Shelley Garnett, secretary of The Roxy Collective, said the group was ‘thrilled’ and ‘delighted’ it can ensure the Roxy remains an integral part of Ulverston.

She said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be in a position to begin the process of purchasing the Roxy building and completing Phase One of the project so quickly as a result of the generosity of the local community and organisations, and we want to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to everyone who has supported the project thus far. 

“There is still a long way to go to bring the building back to its former glory but we are delighted that we can now at least ensure that the Roxy remains an integral part of Ulverston.

“There are exciting and busy times ahead, and we will be sure to keep everyone updated as plans progress and come to fruition."

One of the agreed proposals by The Roxy Collective is to provide an official home for Ulverston's Tourist Information Centre.

Suzanne Garnett, chair of the group, said previously: “The Roxy is an important and much-loved part of Ulverston and has been for over 80 years.

“We feel privileged to be part of such a caring and creative community and look forward to working closely with the Roxy building’s existing fantastic tenants, and also celebrating and championing new art, new experiences, new collaborations and new stories.”