A HOTEL the shape of a champagne glass, a cinema that resembles a Rubik's Cube and a theatre that looks like a toaster are part of a £500m scheme to regenerate a rundown part of the North-East.

The covers will today be taken off the scheme to transform the wilderness that was once Middlesbrough docks into an architectural landmark.

The 15-year plan includes 76,000 square metres of offices, 2,750 homes, 2,500 square metres of shops, 31,000 square metres for educational development, including space for a primary school and a college, and 42,450 square metres of leisure development.

There will also be a wetland wildlife nature reserve, areas for water skiing, climbing, skating and bike riding and tennis, as well as bars, cafes and hotels.

Part of the development is believed to have a Marge Simpson theme from the TV cartoon series.

Work has already started on the Middlehaven site after 20 years of wishful thinking and false starts.

Joe Docherty, chief executive of Tees Valley Regeneration, leading the project, said last night: "I know that Middlehaven has had more launches than Cape Canaveral - but this isn't just talk."

He added: "The scheme will be delivered in three phases and a significant amount of the proposals for phase one are at an advanced stage of negotiation, with a number of announcements expected later this year. In fact, construction work on the first offices has now started."