A massive cut in funding for a specialist Wimbledon theatre threatens to curtail entertainment and education for thousands of children across London.

The Polka opened in The Broadway 24 years ago and is the only theatre in Britain producing and presenting work specifically for children.

The Association of London Government (ALG), which pools money from London's 33 councils, told the Polka on Thursday of the likely axing of the theatre's annual £90,000 grant.

The recommendation will be presented to the ALG grants committee at a meeting on Wednesday for a final decision.

The ALG has said, in a letter to the theatre, the proposed cut is due "to the high numbers of bids received, the limited level of funding available and the need to ensure a strategic spread of funding across London".

The theatre draws around half its yearly audience of 100,000 children from Merton, Wandsworth, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton and Croydon, with children from Lambeth, Tower Hamlets and Southwark also involved in some of its projects.

It claims there are currently no arts organisations in Richmond, Kingston, Sutton or Croydon (serving either children or adults) in line for any ALG subsidy.

It says the loss of the £90,000, which would hit the theatre in April, would destroy its education work as well as making visits difficult for children who have special needs or come from low-income families.

The Polka is appealing against the recommendation and asking for public support.

People can help by contacting Merton's representative on the ALG grants committee, Linda Kirby, at Linda.Kirby@merton.gov.

uk or by post by no later than Tuesday.

January 29, 2003 11:00