WORK to demolish an entertainments venue and redevelop it for a leisure complex has been launched.

A bid for the Redcar Bowl land has been accepted by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, with the developer expected to put in a planning application to create a multi-leisure development, including a cinema.

The move comes as a campaign is under way to try and save the town’s Regent Cinema which is on the seafront.

The cinema, build in 1928 at the entrance to the Coatham pier has been neglected for years by the council, according to the residents fighting to preserve the dilapidated building.

Members of the Save the Regent Cinema group have raised concerns about its future, despite the council's £75m pound investment in the seafront regeneration of the town, including the building of the Redcar Beacon.

However, the council has now almost reached a financial agreement for the site with a prospective developer.

Councillor Norman Pickthall, the authority's cabinet member for corporate resources, said: “The council has accepted an offer for the site and is in the process of finalising the terms and conditions with the developer.”

The work to clear the site is expected to last several weeks.