A FORMER nightclub which once hosted stars such as Take That and Ant and Dec has been bought by Stockton Council.

Glam nightclub on Stockton High Street, formerly known as The Mall, Visage and then Zanzibar, which closed down two years ago, has been purchased by the council, as well as the adjoining former Post Office building on Stockton High Street.

The council is believed to have bought the two properties for £600,000 as part of its £38m revamp of the High Street - and said it was "considering its options" as to the future of the site.

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: “We recently acquired the former Glam nightclub and Post Office buildings, which have been vacant for some time, and are currently considering our options in relation to them.

“We are always thinking and planning ahead when it comes to the regeneration of the borough and gaining control of key sites is a big part of this.

“You only need look at the thriving Enterprise Arcade in Stockton High Street to find a great example of how strategic, council-led acquisitions can make a major contribution to our regeneration ambitions.”

There was speculation that the two buildings could be demolished, but Stockton Council would only say it was looking at several options.

The nightclub was once the Odeon cinema and stood empty throughout the early 1980s until it was bought by Yarm businessman Javed Majid, who opened popular club The Mall in 1987.

Take That appeared there in 1992 and Ant and Dec also performed there at the height of their PJ and Duncan fame in 1994.