THE final touches are being put together to transform a former printworks in Darlington into a bar.

The £1.8m project has taken eight months, but The William Stead, in Crown Street, is due to open on Monday, August 21.

The JD Wetherspoon pub is named after the former editor of The Northern Echo, who died on the Titanic in 1912.

William Stead was a respected campaigner for social justice and was instrumental in changing the laws regarding child prostitution. He went on to edit the Pall Mall Gazette, in London.

About 50 full and part-time jobs have being created at the bar, which will be managed by Mark Watson and Sarah Naylor.

It will be non-smoking throughout and spread over two floors, with a bar on each and a dance floor. There is an outside beer garden with patio heaters where smoking will be allowed.

Mr Watson said: "There is going to be legislation to be non-smoking soon anyway and 70 per cent of the population are non-smokers, so there is a definite market in Darlington for people who wouldn't otherwise go out."

Mr Watson said the bar would be a good addition to the Darlington social scene.

The William Stead will be open from 7am until 1.30am, Sunday to Thursday, and from 7am until 2.30am on Friday and Saturday.

Children, accompanied by an adult, will be allowed in the bar until 9pm, with last orders for food at 8pm. As a condition of the licence, both the adult and child must order a meal.