WORK has started on transforming Leigh's remaining derelict Cinema into a top notch nightspot.

The former Classic Cinema, which started life last century as The Hippodrome, will see the Hip old name return.

Last week the new owners, the Sunderland-based Mason Group, applied to the Leigh Licensing Panel for a drinks licence protection order and the go-ahead for amusement machines.

The decisions are expected in November.

The Leigh Road building has had a chequered history.

After starting out as a live theatre, it became the privately owned Odeon Cinema.

This was taken over by the Classic Cinema chain and its last owners Cumbria Leisure Ltd, of Carlisle, turned it into a Laserquest centre.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.