Not enough legroom for audiences at the Rose Theatre has emerged as one of the reasons why taxpayers have been landed with a new £350,000 bill.

The embarassing admission from Tony Knight, the director of the company set up to fit out the theatre, follows last weeks news that Lib Dem-run Kingston Council is being asked for a second time to stump up extra cash, despite promising to close the public strings.

The final price tag for the theatre refit, after a visit from a Westminster licencing officer meant doors, wiring and footwells had to be redone, will be £7.15m, more than £638,000 over the original budget.

For more on this story see the Surrey Comet out on Wednesday, May 21.