A RACE against time that equals any of televisions best property makeover programmes shows that businesses and the local community can pull together in times of crisis.

In Monmouth the community spirit surrounding the town's Savoy Theatre pulled out all the stops as the trust made an urgent appeal before a weekend of events.

With just 24 hours before the Savoy was due to host an evening with Ann Widdecombe, the historic theatre was being prepared for the event with the re-routing of cables and adjustment of the Edwardian theatre's chandeliers in the roof space.

But disaster struck as during these repairs an accident occurred, which resulted in a large hole being created in the lath and plaster ceiling. 

The area beneath had to be roped off for that evening's cinema going audience leaving the trust to ponder over what to do next.

The gaping hole for that evening's film screening left the audience sitting in a draft and it was quickly realised by the Savoy Theatre Trust that if the next day's show was going to go ahead it needed to be fixed.

So at 7am the next morning, the roof timbers were inspected and were found to be in good order and so an action plan for repairs was hatched that relied on local businesses coming together to help in the theatre's hour of need.

Locally based Eagle Plant Hire were contacted and were able to supply a scaffolding tower which they duly delivered. Local builder Gee Gonzalez was drafted in to show volunteers how to assemble the scaffolding tower.

Meanwhile Handyman House in Monnow Street came up trumps by mixing the paint to the required colour to match the existing ceiling and also supplied the plasterboard to repair the ceiling.

However when two employees from ATC Floors and Doors, who had been drafted to work on the ceiling, realised that the scaffolding tower was too short. 

The team contacted Eagle Plant Hire for some more equipment, but as they had no more scaffolding in stock they took it upon themselves to phone around other suppliers to help the cause.

Brandons Tool Hire from Hereford came up trumps and delivered the additional scaffolding to their depot at Ross-on-Wye, which was then picked up by the ATC team of Neil Perkins and Weizech Dolny. 

The lads had the task completed within a couple of hours and by mid afternoon the tower was being collapsed allowing a team of cleaners to move in to clear away any evidence of their near disaster.

Savoy trustee Stephanie Harris said: "This is a situation in which everybody pulled together  - both businesses and individuals to save the day. The beauty is that none of the audience for Ann Widdecombe or the former politician herself knew of our near disaster. And because of the effort that were able to open our doors on Saturday for the public to come and look round as had been planned.

"We are just so grateful for everybody pulling together in our hour of need."

•Astrologer Russell Grant has been appointed as the Savoy Theatre's patron and is spearheading the trust's application for a sizeable grant to the NatWest Community Force programme in which the public can place their vote until October 21.