A date has been announced for the opening of the borough's only cinema.

Work has begun to fit out the nine-screen multiplex at the former Arcade site in Cleveland Place, Walthamstow, and it is scheduled to open on November 20.

It will be the first time in more than a decade that people do not need to travel outside the borough to the cinema.

Council leader Chris Robbins was on-site yesterday at The Scene to officially hand it over to Empire Cinema's chief executive Justin Ribbons. 

Mr Ribbons said: "We are thrilled to have reached this important milestone which will ultimately see the return of the silver screen to Walthamstow for the first time in more than a decade."

The announcement comes just days after Pizza Express confirmed it was opening a restaurant at The Scene along with Nandos, Caribbean style-cuisine Turtle Bay and Thai restaurant Yum Yum.

Meanwhile, a cabinet meeting is being held this evening to agree on funding for a negotiated sale of the EMD cinema from its current owner, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG).

The council has said it is prepared to issue a compulsory purchase order if a deal cannot be brokered.