A £3.5m restaurant and hotel will open in Darlington in just over a month, creating 60 jobs.

Owner Whitbread Restaurants has announced that building work is on schedule, and the Brewsters family restaurant, with its adjoining Travel Inn, will open on December 2.

Attractions at Brewsters will include food served all day, children's menus, a toddlers' play area and Sony PlayStations on free play.

A Fun Factory - an indoor play area with climbing ropes, slides and a ball pool to keep youngsters occupied - is also included in the project.

A "Parentcam" closed-circuit television system is being installed in the restaurant so that parents can watch their children while they play.

Electronically-tagged children's aprons will also activate an alarm if youngsters wander too close to an exit.

Children will also be able to create their own desserts at an "ice cream factory" and to serve themselves ice-crush drinks.

The adjoining Travel Inn will provide 58 single, double, or family rooms.

Manager Noel McLay said: "Its prominent position at Morton Park will no doubt make the new Brewsters and Travel Inn an attraction that will appeal to local residents, families and also visitors to the area.

"Brewsters is a real family restaurant, which will be as much fun for parents as it is for the children."

Mr McLay, 55, and his wife, Judith, 52, are moving back to their home town to run the restaurant and hotel.

Previously, they ran the Brewsters at Tindale Crossing, Bishop Auckland.

At the new hotel they will be joined by their 29-year-old daughter, Louise, who has been appointed revenue manager.

Brewsters will be next to the private Woodlands Hospital and close to the B&Q and Morrison's store complex.

The scheme was approved by Darlington Borough Council after tourism officials said the town was short of budget hotel accommodation.

Owner Whitbread Restaurants has 140 Brewsters throughout the country, and hope to create 220 by 2005 at a cost of £200m. There are 284 Travel Inns in the UK.