SCARBOROUGH'S seafront Futurist Theatre has reopened as a cinema, screening new blockbuster Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers.

The 2,000-seat theatre, which is owned by the borough council, closed at the end of the summer season and is for sale as part of a redevelopment scheme.

However, theatre impresario Barrie Stead, who owns the town's Hollywood Plaza cinema, has leased it for a year.

He said he intended to stage big-name shows next year, starring Joe Longthorne, Joe Pasquale, The Chuckle Brothers and Ken Dodd.

He was formerly involved with comedian Jim Davidson, staging shows at other British resorts.