Eastleigh'S dance and arts centre The Point is set to cost taxpayers around three-quarters of a million pounds over the next three years.

Civic chiefs have committed the cash - rising from £238,000 this financial year to £252,000 in 2004/05 - to keep the facility's head above water.

They have rejected claims that the town centre resource is "elitist" and have heralded it as a "rip-roaring success".

Head of arts and tourism Cheryl Butler and finance chief Nick Tustian told Eastleigh council that, in the past four years, audiences for professional events at The Point had increased from 35 per cent capacity to 66 per cent.

Film shows had also performed strongly with attendances growing from 5,016 in 1998/99 to 8,000 in 2001/02, despite the number of screenings being reduced from 152 to 114.

Eastleigh borough residents accounted for 75 per cent of cinema ticket sales and 55 per cent of all ticket sales.

Figures showed that while the total cost of the centre for 2001/2002 was £525,714, ticket sales accounted for £86,466 and lettings £65,769, contributing to a total income of almost £250,000.

However, council leader Keith House said: "The Point is an obvious rip-roaring success whichever way you look at it. The more we can build on it the better."

Councillor Louise Bloom added: "I think it is a fantastic facility. I don't buy this theory of elitism at all - people go to see what they want to see.

"We should be justly proud of it and I think the subsidy is worth it. You do have to put subsidies into things. We subsidise buses - both are of equal value to the community."