MOVIE fans are in for a treat this summer when a state-of-the-art cinema opens in Bury town centre.

After two years of planning, developers are well on schedule to complete work on the 10-screen Vue cinema at the £350 million Rock development, due to open on July 16.

Builders this week handed over the multiplex, which will stand alongside a 10-pin bowling centre and five restaurants at the main entrance to The Rock entertainment complex.

Between them, the 10 screens have 1,700 seats and three of the screens can show 3D films and also offer fully digital sound quality.

But the central attraction will be a special super-sized screen, the size of four double-decker buses, and used to show action movies and sports events.

When the cinema opens, the existing Vue cinema on the Park 66 retail and leisure complex will close.

The Park 66 venue was the first multiplex opened by Warner Brothers — Vue’s predecessor — when it opened in June 1989.

Vue managing director Mark de Quervain said: “We are incredibly excited about the opening.

“It will include super comfortable VIP seats in every screen, incredible 3D film presentation, low-priced Kids AM films for young families, non-film content, such as live music and sport, and VueXtreme.

“We expect this cinema to be a massive hit.”

The Rock development manager Guy Wells said: “The positive impact of bringing a cinema to the centre should not be underestimated.

“With the continued popularity of cinema, combined with Vue’s latest technology, we are confident of its success.”

Meanwhile, project bosses have confirmed to the Bury Times that other building work at The Rock is going according to plan.

Project manager Carolyn Kenney said the vast majority of retail units will be full in time for the July opening, with more to come in the run up to Christmas. Among the retailers setting up there are Primark, Marks and Spencer and Debenhams.

She added the programme of events for the July 16 launch would be revealed shortly.