THE team behind a long-awaited cinema development have insisted that they are "on track as planned" and expect to start screening the latest blockbusters at the end of June.

Vue Cinema's nine screen complex, which is the cornerstone of Darlington's new Feetham's site, denied rumours of delays and reassured cinemagoers that the town's first multiplex would soon be up and running.

The Northern Echo understands that the date to open the cinema has shifted several times although bosses at Vue have been reluctant to go public with a specific date.

When the Echo was given a tour around the site in early February developers said they expected the cinema and adjacent Premier Inn hotel would open "not long after Easter".

Last week, the 80–bed hotel opened its doors to guests, following the start of trading at restaurants Nando’s, Bella Italia, The Woollen Mill Hungry Horse pub and Prezzo, which all decided to open last month rather than wait for the site's two main crowd-pullers to be completed.

Further eateries are scheduled to open at Feethams in the next few weeks.

Darlington-born Simon Hawkins, development director with Urban & Civic, the property development company behind the leisure scheme, said Premier Inn’s opening was a big day for Feethams. “From day one, we’ve known that having a great new hotel here would be a real boon, not just to Feethams but also to the town of Darlington,” he said. “The level of investment shows just how much confidence everyone has in the success of this development, and we’re excited that Premier Inn chose to be a part of it.”

Aaron Beswick, operations manager with Premier Inn, said: “We are very excited to be a part of this fantastic development. Feethams has got everyone in the town talking, and myself and the team are looking forward to bringing our renowned value and quality to the people of Darlington.”

Mr Hawkins said that an announcement would be made very soon about an event to mark the grand opening of the leisure scheme.

“We’re in the process of planning a special event to celebrate the grand opening of Feethams as a whole,” he said. “We’re all very excited and are sure it will be a huge hit with the people of Darlington.”