Harrow Council has shot down claims that an arts centre is facing closure after a campaign group raised millions of pounds to keep it open.

Charitable trust Cultura London began fundraising last year after it was revealed the council was unable afford the annual £500,000 subsidy to run Harrow Arts Centre, in Uxbridge Road, Hatch End.

In January 2016, the council and Cultura London set an initial £3.5 million fundraising target to start modernising the centre.

This was supposed go towards providing a cinema, galleries, cafes, bars and a bigger theatre to compliment the site's historic Elliott Hall.

However, despite being given a £1m grant by the council, the fundraising targets were not met and in September, it was announced that a “new direction” would be taken without any of the services and classes at the Arts Centre being affected.

Since October, Cultura London has now raised £3.1 million to help towards the redevelopment, but chairman Andrew Welch said it was “devastating” that the money will still not be used.

He said: “We are staggered that efforts to save the centre have come to nothing.

“We have raised significant funding and brought major players in the culture sectors to the table.

“We are devastated. The centre is now likely to close when it could so easily have become a cultural hub of which the whole of North and West London and surrounding areas could have been proud”.

However, cllr Sue Anderson, Harrow Council portfolio holder for culture said in September that the council will explore other ways to modernise the arts centre.

She said: "Our residents treasure the Arts Centre and we have tried everything to help make CulturaLondon’s magnificent vision a reality.

“Sadly, even with the Council’s £1m grant, the charitable funds just haven’t come forward and it would be irresponsible to put any more Council money into the project.

“We are very grateful to CulturaLondon, who worked their socks off, and especial thanks to its amazing trustees for giving their valuable time and effort voluntarily to this cause.

"We are now looking at a different direction and new ways to use our limited resources to support a thriving and diverse arts and culture offer.”