A North-East town has unveiled its spectacular glimpse of the future if it wins the fight for the UK's first and only super casino.

Leading casino operators Aspers have been chosen to take forward the bid for a £180m casino and leisure complex at Middlesbrough's Middlehaven site.

Tees Valley Regeneration today announced the company as being the preferred operator for the massive development earmarked for the site on the edge of Middlehaven dock.

If Middlesbrough is successful in its bid, the package will create up to 4,000 jobs for the town, along with a 7,000 capacity arena, a brand new luxury hotel, conference facilities, restaurants, bars, a health club and a spa.

Aspers chief executive Damian Aspinall, the partner of television personality Donna Air, said: "We are honoured to have been selected as the preferred partner for the Middlehaven casino project and we will be working hard to make this iconic project into a reality. We are also determined to be good corporate citizens of the Tees Valley and to offer the best gaming and leisure product to our customers in a responsible manner."

Joe Docherty, chief executive at Tees Valley Regeneration said: "It's not everyday you announce a package with the potential benefits that this new partnership with Aspers will bring the people of Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley."