Coronavirus: War Horse author calls for arts centre support

Children's author Sir Michael Morpurgo is calling on fans of the arts to rally to the support of a Devon arts centre.

Managers at The Plough said the site in Great Torrington had been closed throughout the Covid-19 lockdown.

Twenty-one staff had been told they faced possible redundancy when the government's furlough scheme ended in October, they added.

Centre patron and War Horse writer Sir Michael said it would be "very difficult" to get back if it did shut.

Sir Michael, who is based in Devon, said: "It's something that, if we lose it, it's very, very difficult to get back.

"If the Plough shuts, how the heck does it ever open up again?

"It's incumbent upon us all to make sure that [the] government does what it can to support it, and that we support it."

Trustees of the centre said they were hoping for National Lottery support to keep going.

A £1.57bn emergency support package to help protect the future of theatres, galleries and museums was announced earlier this month by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.

The government is expected to release more details about the support package soon.

However, Mr Dowden said at the time it would not be enough to save every job.

Sir Michael's most famous book, War Horse, about a young boy's attempts to save his horse during the World War One, has been successfully adapted for film and the stage.

The 76-year-old former children's laureate also worked for 10 years as teacher.