AMATEUR theatre groups have released a painting of how the Hippodrome theatre could look if restored to its former glory.

The Grade II-listed building in Green Lane was heavily damaged on March 28 while the owner, Christopher Anthony, was carrying out work meant to repair its roof.

Huge sections collapsed and parts of the Crompton Street-facing wall were subsequently pulled down.

The council won an injunction to stop Mr Anthony carrying out any further work without its supervision.

And this month its planning control committee agreed an enforcement notice should be served on the owner to make him repair the building to at least the standard it was when he bought it.

Derby New Theatre Association has backed that action and wants the building to be restored.

It wanted it to be used by amateur groups and submitted a planning application, before the damage in March, for the former bingo hall to be reopened as a theatre, but did not have the money to do the work itself.

Now the group, representing amateur groups, has revealed how the building could look if it was restored.

Treasurer Tony Jaggers said: "We are delighted that the council is continuing to take a robust stance against Mr Anthony's failure to protect this historic building.

"Our association was the first to raise concerns about the state of the Hippodrome when it was a bingo hall and after it closed."

The group commissioned the painting by artist Carolyn Hardy in an attempt to stop people writing off the building as an eyesore.

Mr Jaggers said: "It shows that, with proper care and a sympathetic development of the area round the building, the whole area could be a real asset to the city."

And he said repairing the building would have a positive impact on the wider city.

He added: "The restoration would be an exciting project which could kick-start the regeneration of the Becketwell and Lanes areas."