A CINEMA showing signs of wear and tear is to be refurbished, with improving viewer comfort the top priority.

The Blue Room, in Durham's Gala Theatre and Cinema, was designed as a multi-purpose performance space, but has only been used for screening films.

Gala officials say the revamp will help make it fit this purpose, improving the quality of experience for film fans.

The Blue Room, the smaller of the Gala's two cinema screens, was added to the £14m complex in 2005, at a cost of £160,000.

Because it was seen as a venue for music and dance, as well as cinema, only temporary seats were installed. Many have since had to be patched after suffering wear and tear. Eight are currently out of use.

All rows will be replaced with multiplex-style seats, with the capacity increased slightly from 72 to 79.

Victoria Manifold, film development officer at the Gala, said: "Because it's temporary seating, they damage very easily.

"Lots of people have told us the seats are quite uncomfortable.

But it's going to be very comfortable.

There will also be more leg room.

"The seats weren't meant to be used as frequently as they have been. It got to the point where we couldn't keep up with repairing them."

The Blue Room was installed in a space alongside the 114-seat main screen, which will undergo minor redevelopment.

The cinema was originally designed primarily to show the Sacred Journey, a £1m film about Durham's history, which was produced as part of the Gala's development.

However, the 35mm projector used to screen this film is broken and it will not be shown on the big screen again.

The Sacred Journey is available to borrow on DVD.

A 70mm projector was installed, so Hollywood blockbusters could also be shown.

The Blue Room will be closed between July 7 and 17 while the refurbishment is carried out.

The Gala quickly suffered financial difficulties on opening in January 2002, racking up large debts.

However, last summer, Councillor Sue Pitts, the former leader of Durham City Council, said the theatre was on a "very satisfactory commercial footing".

Last year, the cinema alone attracted 100,000 customers.