PLANS for a £30million leisure complex including a 10-screen cinema have suffered a delay.

The development firm behind the project, which would occupy land behind Blackburn Railway Station, had originally hoped to announce which cinema operator would be moving to the town at the end of this month.

But today, James Whittaker, of Peel Holdings said it could take up to a month to announce which chain was moving in.

He said: "Negotiations are continuing but it is taking longer than anticipated. We hope to be able to announce something within the next month."

Last month, Mr Whittaker said firms running nightclubs, bowling alleys, fitness centres and restaurants had all shown an interest in the site, which covers a 10-acre site running from the rear of Blackburn Railway Station to Lower Audley.

Opposition councillors today threw their weight behind the leisure development, joining their Labour colleagues who welcomed the original announcement last month.

Coun Alan Cottam, the Conservative spokesman for regeneration, said: "These things do take time and it is not always possible to stick to a tight timetable.

"But for a firm this big to announce they have a cinema operator almost signed up shows they are confident because they wouldn't otherwise have said anything.

"It will be excellent for Blackburn to have an all-singing, all-dancing multiplex cinema. Preston has two and we don't even have one cinema which is accessible for disabled people. The one we do have is limited."

A retail development project on the site sitting alongside the multiplex was completed in March.