STAFF at Durham's cinema fear the city could be left without a picture house if plans to convert it to an Australian theme-nightspot are approved.

Regent Inns, of London, is seeking planning permission to turn the independent Robins in North Road into a Walkabout Inn, and is applying for a licence to open until 2am.

The cinema's demise was expected after a planned six-screen multiplex opens as part of the £21m Walkergate development. But with no cinema operator yet lined up for the scheme, staff at the Robins fear the end could come sooner than they thought.

The cinema, which employs 25 people and attracts up to 5,000 people a week, is now understood to be on a three-month lease.

One staff member, who asked not to be named, said: "We want to be in Durham forever - at least until the new multiplex opens.

"But things are quite advanced and there are architects and surveyors in here.

"We always thought we would close when the new cinema opened, but it seems to be moving faster.

"For us to be closed down because of a pub when there isn't a multiplex seems crazy.

"It would be ridiculous for the city's only cinema to be closed to make way for a pub, and for there to be no other cinema.

"We are hoping the council turns down the planning application and the magistrates refuse the drinks licence.''

City council planning officials have recommended that councillors approve the Regent Inns plans.

However, a decision was deferred after the city's police objected, saying they had serious concerns about the plan's impact on disorder.

The police also plan to object when the firm applies for its drinks licence later this month.

The City of Durham Trust is also opposed to the scheme. Secretary Dr Douglas Pocock said: "We think there are sufficient licensed premises and nightclubs in North Road already.

"We would regret the loss of the Robins and have always maintained that the size of the cinema projected for Walkergate is excessive.

"We remain sceptical that there is a cinema operator wanting to come to Walkergate.''

Walkergate developer Amec said last week that it was in "advanced negotiations'' with a potential multiplex operator