PLANS for a 40,000 sq ft multiplex cinema in the Kingfisher Centre will be submitted to Redditch Council within the next few weeks.

Directors from centre owners Thornfield are busy preparing the final planning application, which will include proposals for bars and restaurants.

The move comes as part of Thornfield's £160 million investment programme to redevelop the centre and bring into the top 10 shopping destinations by 2002.

Director Peter Young said: "We are talking with a number of cinema operators to run the cinema and a food court, including bars and restaurants, and the application will be in during the next few weeks."

Thornfield highlighted Car Park 4 as a possible siting for the new cinema when the vision was announced earlier this year.

Redditch town centre lost its one and only cinema more than 15 months ago when the ABC, Unicorn Hill, closed its doors after 60 years.

ABC has since merged with Odeon and a spokesman said there was still no update on plans for the site since it was boarded up.

But a Redditch Council spokesman said the cinema building was not listed and not in a preservation area.

He said: "The council would be happy to work with potential developers as part of our aim to regenerate the town centre and the work of the Redditch Town Centre Partnership."

Work on demolishing and rebuilding the bus station to create a transport interchange with shops and a health complex is to start this summer after Thornfield gained planning permission.