AN AMBITIOUS plan to create a £100 million premier entertainment and retail complex in the heart of Bolton looks set to move a step closer early next year.

A shortlist of three developers has been drawn up to transform Victoria Hall into the envy of the North-west.

And there is already talk of the complex rivalling some of the area's most prestigious venues including Manchester's acclaimed Bridgewater Hall.

At its heart will be a revamped main hall seating 1,500 people.

A smaller auditorium holding 300 people will be created below ground level and a major new department store looks set to be built.

If successful the centre could create many new jobs

Bulldozers will move on to the site around Victoria Hall within months of the developer being given the go ahead in December.

An eight acre site bordered by Knowsley Street, Bark Street, Deansgate, Pool Street and St Edmund Street will be cleared.

In its place will be the Victoria Gardens shopping complex, which would have the 100-year-old historic hall at its centre.

The building's owners, Bolton Methodist Mission, said their intention is to attract premier events to the town.

Orchestras, comedians and bands look set to figure in the new town centre project.

It could create an extra 2,000 town centre jobs.

Rev Phil Mason, superintendent minister at the Mission, said: "There has been a slight delay in getting the plans off the ground but we've put that behind us now.

"This will be a destination point for people. It will offer an experience that we hope will be unmatched by any other town.

"Our aim is to create not just bricks and mortar but a living building which is used day and night. There's great potential for this project and we intend to exploit it."

Restaurants and cafes will form part of the plan, both existing alongside the methodist church, which will continue to be a focal part of the development.

Other details of the project have emerged including a plan to make a performance area next to the hall's stage visible from the shopping area via a huge glass screen.

Mr Mason said: "The acts we hope to attract in the future will, of course, need to be sensitive to the church but even God has fun.

"The next step up from Victoria Hall in the area would be the Bridgewater Hall and there's no reason why we couldn't attract similar acts here to boost our evening economy."