DURHAM'S Gala Theatre is gearing up to become the city's new cinema.

The £14m complex has had a large screen cinema since it opened, showing historical film Sacred Journey and Disney classics.

But now workmen are installing a 35mm projector that will be used to show the latest Hollywood releases.

The cinema will also have a box office.

The first movie to be screened in the 116-seat downstairs auditorium will be X-Men 2, which starts on Thursday.

The city has been without a cinema since January, when the independent Robins cinema, in North Road, closed to be converted into an Australian theme bar.

A Gala spokesman said the cinema was already attracting interest, and one of the first screenings of X-Men 2 had already sold 70 tickets.

He said: "It is the old story about giving people what they want. With the demise of the Robins, people wanted a cinema where they can see first-run films.

"The response has been good. We are hoping Matrix 2 will be the next film."

X-Men 2 will run for two weeks and will be shown at 1.45pm, 4.40pm and 8.15pm each day. Tickets are £4.75 for adults, concessions are £3.60.

On Mondays except Bank Holidays, tickets are £3.

Sacred Journey, the story of St Cuthbert and the founding of Durham, will be shown every day at 11am and noon.

For details, call the box office on 0191-332 4041.