Hollyoaks star Helen Noble has spoken out against planned funding cuts to a Sussex arts venue.

On the day the Arts Council met to make a final decision on proposals to slash handouts to hundreds of arts organisations across the UK, the TV actress told The Argus she opposed the planned cut to Komedia in Gardner Street, Brighton.

Helen, who is Abby Davies in the show, was appearing at the launch of a community arts programme in London.

She said: "It's a great shame that something like this happens. Drama is not just about being superstars. Arts groups and theatres offer children the confidence that comes from interacting with other kids who may not have the social skills so necessary in this day and age.

"If you can provide them with that it's positive for the whole community."

The Council informed about 200 arts organisations just days before Christmas that they would lose funding from April.

Directors of Komedia made their final attempt to persuade the Arts Council not to cut the funding earlier this month.

The seven-strong management team hand-delivered documents to the South East office of the arts body in response to the council's proposal to withdraw the £150,000 the theatre receives each year.

Komedia co-founder Colin Granger said losing the money meant the theatre would have to focus on its commercially successful music and comedy events and axe the rest of its programme, including theatre, dance and variety shows for the elderly.

Ed Vaizey, the Tories' arts spokesman, said he "regretted" that the groups under threat of losing out had not been given longer to put their case against cuts.

He said: "Hearing the Hollyoaks cast talk about the importance of theatre and drama I am glad their voices are being added to the debate, hitting home how important theatre and drama can be in the community."

The Arts Council said a final decision about the funding would be announced on Friday.

A spokeswoman said: "We have been concerned for some time that Komedia's work is not artistically innovative enough or influential in the region and nationally.

"We have expressed these concerns to Komedia over the last few years, particularly our concern that they have not been putting on enough high quality theatre. We had hoped that these concerns would be addressed, but unfortunately they remain."