A nightclub is believed to have been sold as part of a £3m deal.

Bar and nightclub group Springwood, based in Swithland, Leicestershire, has agreed to buy eight venues from rival First Leisure Trading, it was revealed yesterday.

Two of the nightclubs are in Darlington while the remainder are in Sunderland Blackburn, Blackpool, Manchester, Rochdale and Wigan.

First Leisure Trading owns the Mardi Gras, in Gladstone Street, and the New Orleans, also in Gladstone Street.

The town centre nightclub closed its doors earlier this year for 12 weeks while it underwent a £1.5m refurbishment to change its dancefloors and revamp the club.

At the time manager John Reid said the new-look club, owned by First Leisure, would be the best in the area.

He said: "We may be a lot smaller than some of the others in the country, but we are going to be the best club in the town, if not the whole area."

No one from Springwood or from the Mardi Gras was available for comment last night.

It is not known which Sunderland club is included as part of the deal.