THE wraps are off designs for the 10-screen complex which the firm behind Warner Cinemas is bringing to Blackburn - and that's not all, folks!

A leisure club, 24-lane bowling alley and fast-food restaurant are also being built by developer Peel Holdings on the site alongside Blackburn Railway Station.

Planning permission was granted in March, but Peel have only just finished negotiations with VUE, the firm which owns the Warner Village Cinema brand, which has now signed the deal to operate the multiplex.

The cinema will have 10 screens and is part of the 10-acre project. Blackburn with Darwen Council has helped Peel acquire the land it needs.

VUE, formerly SBC Cinemas, announced that the Blackburn development would be its first new one since acquiring the Warner Village Cinema chain last week.

It will branded as a VUE cinema, while the 36 existing Warner Village Cinemas - including ones at Middlebrook in Horwich and Walton-le-Dale, near Preston - will also be rebranded over the next six months.

Work will start before the end of the year on the site, and last up to six months. More than 200 new jobs are expected to be created.

Manchester-based Peel Holdings secured planning permission for the £30million project in March, having already completed phase one of its project -- the retail part which included Matalan and Staples.

Peel, which also owns Blackburn Ice Arena, is owned by Rossendale man John Whittaker.

Solicitors for Peel have now been instructed to begin negotiations with the other firms which want to go on the site. JJB Sports has been lined up to operate on the site, running a leisure and health club.

Geoff Moore, director of design and construction for VUE said: "We are delighted about this opportunity in Blackburn and look forward to finalising and completing the project with Peel over the coming months."

James Whittaker, development manager at Peel Holdings confirmed the deal with Vue had been signed.

He said: "Peel have been working closely with Blackburn with Darwen Council and Network Rail for some time to bring the regeneration plans for this site to fruition.

"We are delighted that VUE have been attracted to the Park."

Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "We are delighted that Peel's leisure scheme is progressing well and that a major cinema operator like VUE is showing their commitment to Blackburn Town Centre and it's future development.

"Making the town centre a livelier place to visit with a greater range of things to do for all age groups is a key priority in the new Blackburn Town Centre Strategy."

Plans for a second multiplex cinema in Blackburn were unveiled earlier this month. The owners of the Apollo cinema in King William Street want to build a new complex on land off Salford and Penny Street in Blackburn town centre and opposed planning permission for the rival complex before it was granted in March.