Acting couple Timothy West and Prunella Scales have joined the fight to save the struggling Priestley Centre from closing.

The couple said they were "distressed" to hear of the Priestley's problems and backed the Telegraph & Argus campaign to try to save it.

Bradford-born Mr West, whose roles include Churchill, Edward VII and mill-owner Bradley Hardacre in Brass, and his actress wife Prunella Scales - best known as Basil Fawlty's wife Sybil in Fawlty Towers and more recently Jane Horrocks' eccentric mother in the Tesco ads - urged Bradford to support the theatre in its hour of need.

"We are very distressed to hear that Bradford's Priestley Centre is threatened with closure," said Timothy.

"Apart from the fact that the theatre is so valuable for community use, it seems odd for the city to be bidding for recognition as the European Capital of Culture while offering such an affront to perhaps Bradford's best known cultural personality.

"Prunella and I are very happy to support the Priestley Centre campaign."

The couple, who have one of the longest-running marriages in showbusiness and recently toured together in a production of The External, took time out from their busy schedule to lend their support to the Priestley.

Bradford's theatres are particularly close to Timothy's heart because he was born in the city while his father was appearing at the former Prince's Theatre.

His parents, actors Lockwood West and Olive Carleton-Crowe, were members of a troupe of actors and were in Bradford with a touring production when their son was born at a nursing home in Manningham Lane in October 1934.

Weeks later the family had moved on but West is still proud of being born a Bradfordian.

"I'm very proud of my northern roots. I love Bradford and very much enjoy the touring life, playing to regional theatres," he said.

"At present Leeds is re-housing its own Civic Theatre as part of an exciting new development. Come on Bradford!"

The Priestley Centre is trying to raise enough cash to keep afloat this month.

Around £5,000 was raised from its production of The Cherry Orchard last week after queues formed around the block, in response to the T&A campaign, and now the Priestley must raise another £5,000 to avoid voluntary liquidation.

A costume sale and fundraising show are planned for this week.