COUNCIL officers hope to show films in Durham's Gala Theatre after the city's only cinema closes next year.

The independently-run Robins in North Road will close on Sunday January 5, to be converted into a controversial 700-capacity Walkabout Australian theme pub.

Durham City Council, which is running the £14m theatre after the company it hired to run it collapsed with debts of £700,000, hopes to meet the demand for cinema itself.

It is looking to adapt the large format film auditorium to show 35mm pictures and to use the 500-seat main auditorium for film.

Environmental services director John Jennings said the council had 'accelerated' its plans following confirmation of the Robins' closure.

"We are asking the manufacturer of the large screen to quote for a new lens that will allow us to show 35mm films. We'd also like to have 35mm film in the main auditorium.

"It would be a combination of both mainstream films and art house and specialist films. We have a large student population and large numbers travel to the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle. We'd like to think they could get that sort of thing on the doorstep.''

Mr Jennings said the large screen auditorium could be showing normal format films in February if everything went to plan.

He added that the Customs House in South Shields had proved it was possible for a theatre to show films and host stage productions.

The Sacred Journey, the £650,000 large-screen film made by Brendan Quayle which depicts Durham's history, would continue to be shown.

The film is believed to have failed to attract the expected audiences and will be replaced over the Christmas holiday by The Lion King.

Mr Jennings said The Sacred Journey would benefit from a new marketing drive to attract audiences when it returned.

A spokeswoman for the Robins said: "Our last day will be January 5. It will be a very sad day and we'll try to mark the occasion.

She added that she did not think the Gala would be able to replace the Robins. "I think it will be very expensive to put 35mm equipment in the main theatre and the downstairs auditorium and I can't see them getting first-run films. It won't replace having a cinema in Durham."