A GIANT crane constructed as part of plans to build a cinema at the Market Place Shopping Centre is in the final stages of being taken down.

The huge 123m tall luffing crane has become a Bolton landmark of its own since it was first installed at the shopping centre last May.

The crane is the biggest of its type in the UK, and was shipped over especially from Poland and contractors are now taking it apart.

The process was due to be finished by Sunday, but the complex dismantling has not yet been completed and is expected to be concluded in the next few days.

Bridge Street, which is located next to the shopping centre, will remain closed while the crane is taken down.

The dismantling of the crane is a big step in the completion of the project, which will feature the creation of the new nine-screen cinema, which will be operated by The Light Cinema Experience.

The cinema forms part of an overall £14 million scheme to redevelop the Market Place, which will include opening new bars and restaurants in the restored Victoria vaults in the ground floor of the centre.

Chicken giant Nandos and Italian restaurant chain Prezzo are two big names to announce their involvement.

The firms are set to open their doors in the vaults on March 18 and the cinema will officially open in May.

Market Place manager Nikki Wilson-Cooke said: "It's all very exciting, the clock is ticking and we are all waiting for it to open now. It's all coming together, that's the main thing.

"We are quite happy with the progress, it's just that the the dismantling has not been fully completed yet.

"The cinema project was delayed because the crane could not operate in winds of more than 12mph, but it has finished now.

"It is just a case of bringing all of the different components down. Safety has to come first in things like that so the road has to be closed until it is finished."