Hollywood star Simon Pegg has agreed to be the patron of the Olympus Theatre in Gloucester.

The news is a boost for the team working to bring the once popular venue back into use.

Brockworth born and raised Mr Pegg, star of films including Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dean, started out on his path to stardom in local amateur dramatics.

Now he has shown his support for the Olympus project by joining fellow acting star Jeremy Irons as a patron.

Phil McCormick, owner of Gloucester-based business Nicks Timber, who kick started the project to revive the 1920s theatre, revealed the news in a Facebook post.

"I cannot tell you how pleased I am. This helps the project connect with the youth who know Simon is a local boy from Brockworth. What a great Christmas present," he wrote.

Following a number of reincarnations over the years the latest refurbishment has already received overwhelming support after securing 450 seats from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Mr McCormick said it was important the theatre was created by the community for the community because it has been a huge part of Gloucester's history.

"The theatre has an interesting history and was originally known as Gloucester Picturedrome, when it was used as a 700-seat cinema. From 1962 the venue became a bingo hall, before being transformed into the New Olympus Theatre in the mid-1980s under ownership of the Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society (GODS).

"During the early 1990s, the Challenge Anneka team completed a refurbishment of the theatre, but GODS were forced to sell the theatre in 2007 because of its high maintenance costs.

"In more recent years, the theatre reformed to its original name when a local businessman took over the theatre, but during 2018 the refurbishment project backed by Gloucester Arts Council has seen ownership returned to the community."

The team working to re-establish the Olympus are keen to hear from anyone can offer any support towards the refurbishment - from painting the walls to donations of materials or time.