AN eight-screen multiplex cinema, restaurant facilities and 1,000 car parking spaces form part of a development proposal for a County Durham market town.

Developers are in talks with planners over a multi-million pound scheme to build on the former Warner Electric site, in Bishop Auckland.

Property company Terrace Hill North-East, of Stockton, has earmarked 13.3 hectares of land in St Helens Way, Tindale Crescent, for the development. It is hoping to encourage DIY giant B & Q to relocate.

B & Q bosses have indicated an interest in opening a 5,110sq metre "new generation mini warehouse" with garden centre and builders' yard with 300 parking spaces.

The plan also includes a two-storey eight-screen cinema and single-storey bingo hall with a bistro pub and restaurant, a drive-through restaurant and three retail units.

But if it goes ahead it could end plans to develop a multi-screen cinema in Darlington - a scheme that has been talked about for more than ten years.

Duncan McEwan, development executive at Terrace Hill, who met members of Wear Valley District Council's regeneration department yesterday said the idea for the new park came initially from the plans to move B & Q to the outskirts of the town.

He said that talks with the council revealed a demand for a new cinema and discussions went from there.

He said: "We are very optimistic that this could happen. I am very excited about it. We already have interest from an international cinema chain and a national bingo operator but there are still things that we need to discuss with the council."

Bob Hope, director of regeneration, at the council said that there was still a lot of work to be done. He said: "It will be an interesting application because this is something that the people of Bishop Auckland have been asking for for a long time.

"But we need to make sure that it will not detract in any way from the town centre."

Derek Toon, town centre manager for Bishop Auckland, said: "We have been asking for a cinema in Bishop Auckland for a long time now and if we cannot identify a site in the town centre this is the next best thing.

"Obviously, I will be sorry to lose B&Q from the town centre and we will be looking to fill that unit as soon as we can."