INVESTORS are being sought to breathe new life into an old Earlestown cinema, which has gone on the market.

Doubts remain, though, over what use the imposing former Curzon Cinema, in Railway Street, could be put to in the modern age.

Estate agents Venmore Thomas & Jones, which has a branch in High Street, Newton, are marketing the property, which was used latterly as a snooker hall but has fallen into disrepair recently.

The announcement should come as a relief to King Street residents, who earlier this year were plagued by a burglar alarm persistently ringing out day and night.

Borough council environmental health officials eventually tracked down the building's owners, believed to be a Birmingham-based leisure company, and served them with a noise abatement notice.

With many young Newton people preferring to visit Warrington, St Helens and Liverpool at weekends, question marks linger over the old Curzon's fate.

Newton west councillor Keith Deakin said: "It is something from a bygone age, though it is part of the history of Newton-le-Willows.

"It was a purpose-built cinema and does not lend itself to anything else except as a snooker or bingo hall."

When funding was being obtained from the Single Regeneration Budget to renovate Earlestown station, it was suggested that the same pot could be used to refurbish the former cinema.

This opportunity was never taken up though, added Clr Deakin.

Estate agent spokesman Kevin Bamber said offers in the region of £385,000 were being taken for the former cinema, which could be used for a leisure venture or converted into flats. He told the Guardian: "There has been a bit of interest so far but no real offers."