Mother Goose herself has taken to the streets to help raise support for the Evening Star’s campaign to save the Spa Pavilion.

The axe is hanging over the historic venue but the cast of the popular panto, which is currently on show at the Spa, spent some of their Boxing Day collecting signatures for the petition to save it.

The petition has already attracted more than 600 signatures and Suzie Lowe, director of the Dennis Lowe Theatre Company, which is staging the show, believes that is proof of how much the venue means to the resort’s residents.

She said: “Everybody is really shocked at the news.

“It[collecting signatures] went really well – everybody we stopped wanted to sign it.

“When people walk out (of the Spa Pavilion) they all say that it can’t close – they all say let’s hope something happens. Nobody wants it to close.

“Not one person has been negative about it. They are all being really supportive.”

The theatre’s future is hanging in the balance after Suffolk Coastal District Council announced it would no longer be able to afford the long-term financial commitment to the building.

The shock news was revealed after an options appraisal showed that without significant investment, thought to be around �3million, the theatre would quickly become unfit for purpose.

News about the closure has been mentioned at the end of all the Mother Goose shows and Miss Lowe says the campaign has received overwhelming support from theatre-goers.

She added: “Every show we mention it in the finale.

“Everybody boos when we say that the theatre could close. Their response has been fab.”

If you would like to sign our petition to Save the Spa there are forms at the Evening Star’s Felixstowe office at 172 Hamilton Road or at the Spa Pavilion.

Alternatively there is also an online petition available at www.savethespa.com.

Mother Goose runs at the Spa Pavilion until January 2.

n Why do you want to save the Spa? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or you can send an e-mail to us at eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.