Stars make funding appeal to PM

Leading artists and fashion designers are appealing to the Prime Minister not to cut arts funding in England.

Thirteen stars, including Tracey Emin and Dame Vivienne Westwood, have written a letter to Gordon Brown which appears in the London Evening Standard.

The Treasury is finalising budgets for the next three years.

Arts Council England has said it will need to find an extra £12 million in funding to save some institutions from facing closure.