BOLTON is to have two multi-screen cinemas designed for the 21st century.

As revealed in later editions of last night's BEN, cinema operators have been signed up for both the Bolton Wanderers sports village at Horwich and the Tonge Valley.

Both companies today confirmed their schemes will open next year - even though the other could be a rival.

In a dramatic few hours, first leisure company Chester -based THI announced it was investing £25 million in setting up the Watersmeeting family leisure park in the Tonge Valley, creating 1,000 jobs.

Then cinema giant Warner Bros announced the company would be setting up a 12-screen multi-plex at Horwich. A spokesman for Raven Developments who were the third firm to apply for planning permission for a leisure development in the town said he had no comment to make on yesterday's developments. Their scheme is for the Greyhound Stadium, Manchester Road.

Mr Peter Dobson, managing director of Warner Theatres UK, said that the Horwich cinema would be "one of the most hi-tech in Europe.

"Ours will definitely go ahead, regardless of what happens with other schemes. We believe that we have by far the best site. The new Bolton Wanderers stadium will be there and people will immediately know where it is."

Warner Bros already operate the multi-plex at Pilsworth, Bury, but Mr Dobson said he did not fear the Horwich cinema would be a threat. "Bury is one of our most successful cinemas in the country. There are times when people have to be turned away because it is full." The cinema will create 100 new jobs, but the sports village as a whole is expected to bring 3,000 jobs.

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