A GIANT bingo and leisure complex could form the centrepiece of a large-scale city centre redevelopment.

Entertainment company Mecca has revealed plans to create a £2m bingo club alongside the KwikSave store in the Park Lane area, near Sunderland's new transport interchange.

Mecca believes the complex could be among the most modern in the country, with membership available for up to 1,400 people.

General manager Billy Thompson said the company has outgrown its city centre premises, in the former Odeon cinema, in Holmeside.

Yesterday's news could be followed by a larger leisure development, featuring Sunderland's first multiplex cinema, on a separate site in the city centre.

City council leader Bob Symonds said the development in the High Street West area was "very close" to fruition, three years after the blueprint was unveiled.

Work began last week demolishing derelict buildings on the site, including an old mail sorting office and the former premises of Lambton Street Boys' Club.

Coun Symonds said most of the properties standing in the way of the multi-screen cinema complex had been bought up by the council, and he was keen to see further progress made with site developer, Helios.

"Hopefully, it shouldn't be too far away. I've been pushing that we get on there and get some sort of demolition done so people can see we're moving forward."

The initial proposals contain plans for a 12-screen cinema, a bowling alley, nightclub, casino, cafes, bars a fitness centre, plus car parking.