A DERELICT nightclub, which sparked a dispute between Darlington Football Club chairman George Reynolds and a local businessman, is to be transformed.

Residents have long complained about the state of the former Talk of The Town club in Darlington, which has stood empty for a number of years.

Plans have now been submitted to Darlington Borough Council to convert the building, in Hundens Lane, into a children's day care centre.

The plans for the two-storey building include an activities area, computer room, courtyard, restaurant and car park. Five staff will be employed to run the centre.

News of the redevelopment scheme has been welcomed by local councillor, Ian Haszeldine.

He said: "I am delighted. It will be a very positive thing for the area.

"There are lots of families who live in Hundens Lane and the general area who will be able to use the facility.

"I think the development will fit in well in the area.

Last month, Quakers chairman George Reynolds criticised the club's owner, local businessman Marcus Nimmo, over the condition of the premises.

The multi-millionaire chairman accused Mr Nimmo of double standards after he opposed plans to build a new football stadium for the football club in Neasham Road.

At the time, Mr Reynolds said: "People in glass houses should not throw stones. Mr Nimmo was on about the stadium looking an eyesore and the mess it would cause."

The boarded-up building has had a number of uses over the years.

It was originally a staff canteen and social club, then a pub, before being sold to a glass company, and then sold on to Mr Nimmo.

A planning application was granted in November 1998 to convert the building into six flats, but it remained undeveloped.

In recent months it has become a target for vandals who sprayed graffiti on its walls.

Mr Nimmo, a member of the Neasham Road Action Group, was unavailable for comment about the new plans