BUILDERS will be starting work to create a nightclub on the site of the former gala Bingo Hall in the town centre within the next five weeks, it has been announced.

Up to 35 full and part time jobs will be created when the state-of-the-art nightclub, to be called Time, opens it doors to townsfolk at the end of this year.

The news comes after UK firm Luminar Leisure Limited revealed in April it had bought the property from Millennium Leisure.

Luminar Leisure director Steve Dennis said: "We acquired certain business operations form Millennium Leisure in April and the site of the old gala Bingo Hall in Church Street was part of the package."

He added: "This site had all the appropriate permission to be developed as a night-club and following a review Luminar Leisure has decided to adopt the original scheme with a few minor amendments."

The firm is currently going out to tender for builders to develop the site which has been empty for several years.

Mr Dennis said: "We will be on site within the next five to six weeks and we plan to open just before Christmas."

The town centre's only nightclub, Odyssey, in Royal Square, was closed down in March and has since been demolished to make way for a Debenhams department store opening autumn 2002.