THE MULTI-million pound cinema planned at the heart of Didcot's town centre redevelopment moved a step closer this week.

Building contracts and a deal with cinema chain Cine UK have been signed, and work is due to start on the Station Road site next month.

If everything goes to plan, the first films could be screened in 12 months' time.

The project has suffered major setbacks in recent months and had been due to open this summer.

Contract talks and legal wranglings dragged on longer than expected, pushing the completion date back by a year.

But South Oxfordshire District Council's strategic director, David Hill, said building and leasing contracts, along with firm dates, were now in place and the council was 'desperately keen' to get the cinema open.

He added: "Building will start on site by May 15 at the latest. Britannia Construction will build the shell and then we hand it over to Cine UK for them to complete the fit-out to their specification. We expect it to be open in less than a year."

SODC's cabinet member responsible for the project, Nigel Moor, said: "This is great news for Didcot.

"Bringing a cinema to the town was top of everyone's wish list and, therefore, a key priority for the council.

"Securing one hasn't been easy, but the hard work has finally paid off and we can now look forward to the cinema opening its doors in a year's time."

The total cost of the cinema, including fitting out by Cine UK, is £4.5m, and Mr Hill said the council's contract with Britannia was worth £2.5m.

He added: "The specification has stayed the same and it will be a five-screen multiplex."

Mike Bishop, managing director of Britannia Construction, said: "We are delighted to have been selected for this exciting and long-awaited facility in Didcot. We look forward to working with SODC and Cine UK to bring this state-of-the-art addition to Didcot town centre to a successful completion."

At present, residents have to travel to Oxford, Henley or the Corn Exchange in Wallingford to catch the latest releases.

But the new cinema, along with the planned £6.5m arts centre, will complete the cultural heart of the town's redevelopment, providing more leisure opportunities.

Both buildings, that will face on to a new town square at the top of Orchard Street, have been dogged by setbacks.

Last month, SODC's ruling Tories announced negotiations with their preferred arts centre contractor, Leadbitter, had collapsed.

The lengthy tender process will begin again, adding further delays to the long-overdue project.

But the council insisted it is still committed to the arts centre, despite admitting for the first time it had considered scrapping the project.