SECURING a Government grant could encourage cinema companies to invest in a North-East town.

So far, more than 4,000 people have backed a campaign to bring the big screen experience to Bishop Auckland.

A multiplex and bowling alley were planned as part of a major development at Tindale Crescent, but these were shelved when the recession took hold.

The £45m development by Terrace Hill has seen the building of a new stadium for Bishop Auckland FC and a Sainsbury’s supermarket, with planning permission granted for a Marston’s restaurant and KFC.

However, the town still lacks a cinema.

A campaign on social networking website Facebook has attracted 4,050 members since April and now hopes are emerging that a Government grant could boost the project.

Rob Yorke, chairman of South Durham Enterprise Agency, said a grant from the £1bn Regional Growth Fund could encourage cinema operators to look at Bishop Auckland.

The fund provides support for projects that offer “significant potential for sustainable economic growth and can create new private sector employment”.

“The fund will particularly help areas and communities currently dependent on the public sector make the transition to private sector led growth and prosperity,” according to the Government’s department for business, innovation and skills.

Mr Yorke said: “One of the criteria of the grant is to demonstrate strong public support. Well, this Facebook campaign does exactly that.

“It’s still early days, but the hope is public money could help facilitate a project like this, which would otherwise struggle to get off the ground.”

The Enterprise Agency hopes to apply for a grant by the January 21 deadline.

David Bloomfield, creator of the Facebook page, said the fact Bishop Auckland now has four major supermarkets and three smaller food chains supported his claims that the town could sustain a cinema.

He formed the group after chatting with friends in the pub and admitted he was “overwhelmed” by the response.

Mr Bloomfield said: “It will create more jobs and increase the amount of money spent in the town.

“The last film I saw in Bishop Auckland was Flash Gordon in 1980 at the old Odeon in town.

“I’ve been waiting all my life for a new cinema in the town and, judging by the response on Facebook, a lot of others have been as well. It would be amazing to see a modern cinema showing the latest 3D films in the town.”

Visit the group by searching for Bishop Auckland Cinema on Facebook.