PLANS for a new indoor theme park at Camelot, including a 250-seater theatre and cinema, looked set to get the go ahead last night.

Owner Prime Resorts is seeking planning permission for the project which will also feature dodgems, the return of the Venom rollercoaster and arcade games.

Chorley Borough Council's development control committee, due to meet yesterday evening (Tuesday, October 29), was recommended to approve the scheme.

However, due to the nature and scale of the proposed development, it would need to be referred to the Government Office for the North West. Prime Resorts is keen to give the Charnock Richard park a boost as the number of visitors to the attraction has fallen over the years.

An indoor all weather facility, including a roller rink, play area, video games arcade, party rooms and food outlets already exists at the theme park.

Prime Resorts is looking to expand this facility with a 35m x 59m extension on land once occupied by the Venom rollercoaster ride. The Venom ride will return in the new extension while the existing indoor facility will be redesigned to provide compact bowling, a merrygoround, play areas and food outlets.

It is expected to attract 25,000 visitors a year.

In a report to the committee, Alan Croston, the council's head of planning services, said: "Implementation of the proposed scheme will entail substantial investment on the part of Camelot's owners in one of the borough's most important tourist attractions.

"It will help maintain this major employment source without detriment to the amenities of neighbours or the character and appearance of the area."

The ambitious scheme is part of a £5 million investment project in the park, including the refurbishment of The Park nightclub at a cost of £1m.