THE first part of Accrington's new leisure complex is set to open next month.

Council chiefs have revealed that the drive-thru restaurant part of the Moreton Street venue will open in March.

A four-screen, 800-seat cinema also being lined up, along with a 20-alley bowling venue, will open in June.

But it will be the McDonald's drafted onto the site which will mark the beginning of the once-derelict area's transformation into Accrington's main leisure facility.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe told a meeting of the cabinet: "It is my understanding that McDonald's will open next month.

"It is good to see that, after so much waiting, things are finally starting to open on the site."

The cinema will be known as the Accrington Metro and will be operated by Metroplex of London.

The bowling alley will be run by North West-based firm Osprey, which operates similar sites in Morecambe and Barrow-in-Furness.