An Oscar-winning actor has backed an weekly newspaper’s campaign to save the island it serves from “financial meltdown”.

Jeremy Irons has lent his support to Fight for the Wight, a campaign by the Isle of Wight Count Press to ensure its patch gets a ” fair deal” from central Government.

Isle of Wight Council is currently “on the edge of bankruptcy”, and one in five children live in poverty on the island – with wage levels 20pc lower than neighbouring mainland areas.

Irons was born on the island in 1948 and still has a home there.

He said: “I was horrified to read of the problems endemic in my beloved birthplace and I wish all success to those fighting to improve existing conditions on the Island.”

Irons won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1990 for his performance in Reversal of Fortune and also starred as Charles Ryder in ITV’s adaptation of Brideshead Revisited.

So far more than 6,500 people have signed a petition set up by the newspaper, which will be delivered to the Government before Chancellor George OSborne’s Autmun Statement.

The petition asks the Governemnt to acknowledge the island is unique and needs extra help and Change the way the island is funded in recognition of the unique challenges it faces.

County Press deputy editor Rachael Rosewell said: “It’s great that Jeremy, as a true Islander, has joined our fight for more money for public services on the Island.”