NEW pictures show the development of Bolton’s multi-million pound cinema.

The nine-screen, 1,200-seat cinema is expected to open its doors to the public in December as part of the Market Place’s £19 million transformation.

These pictures show the steelwork that will become the foyer and screen five — the biggest screen in the cinema.

A 123-metre high luffing crane has dominated the Bolton skyline since last month, being used to remove the central dome of the shopping centre and make room for the steel structure which will eventually house the cinema.

The cinema forms part of the wider redevelopment of the Market Place, which will include bars and restaurants in the Victorian vaults, as well as new shops in the centre.

Nikki Wilson-Cooke, Market Place centre manager, said everything is on schedule with the project and the cinema is set to open on December 18 to screen the latest Star Wars film.

She said: “In these photographs you can see the frame of our nine screen, 1,200-seat cinema being built and the steelwork put in place.

“When the huge crane is in motion it is quite amazing. It is just really exciting to see the structure being created before our eyes.

“Every one of the screens is licensed, and the idea is this will be a community cinema which will be quite different to your average cinema.

“As well as blockbusters, we have plans to show Bollywood films and beam in live shows from across the globe.”

Part of the Market Place’s car park has been demolished to make way for the 30,000 square ft cinema complex, with studios sized from 270 to 80 seats.

More car parking spaces will be built above the multiplex and movie-goers will be able to enter the cinema by a central escalator and new lifts.

From the central foyer, which will run along the south edge of the existing building, there will be views over the roof of the Market Hall, built in 1855, to Bolton Town Hall.

Inside the foyer there will be ticket booths, pick-up points for customers buying tickets online, food, drink and toilets, as well as a licensed bar and terrace.

The blueprint for the cinema was drawn up at the same time as new owners the Moorgarth Group negotiated a £24 million deal to buy the Market Place.