MILLIONAIRE tycoon Richard Banson's Virgin Group will build its first multi-screen cinema ... in Bolton.

It was announced today that a 15-screen complex will open at the Watersmeeting family leisure park in the Tonge Valley in December 1997.

The whole £40 million entertainments park is expected to create 1,000 jobs, hundred of those will be at the cinema.

The Virgin Group took over the MGM cinema chain, but this will be the first purpose-built Virgin cinema in the country.

The cinema is part of the Bolton City Challenge Scheme to transform Halliwell and Tonge Valley.

They have put together the entertainments complex scheme, with leisure developers THI.

It will also have a bowling alley, a nightclub and health and fitness facilities.

Mr Mike Devaney, spokesman for Bolton City Challenge, said: "It is an extremely exciting scheme. Richard Branson has been very much involved in the design of it.

"It will be a state-of-the-art building and will be one step up from anything there is at the moment."

Warner Bros are planning a 12-screen complex to open next autumn at Red Moss, Horwich.

Builders are due to move on to the Tonge Valley site in November.

Mr Devaney said: "I think that Bolton can take two multi-screen cinemas. There are two in Preston, and we believe there is a bigger catchment area here."

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