Asbestos could put an end to campaigners' plans to change a former bingo hall into a theatre.

A structural survey of the former Odeon cinema and Mecca Bingo hall in Ashford will reveal if the building contains asbestos.

Council bosses have appointed surveyors and architects to carry out a review of the site, including an analysis of asbestos believed to be present.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) took formal ownership of the building in September after purchasing the Lower High Street spot last year.

In August, documents revealed ABC is considering knocking it down to make way for a new homes, bar and restaurant development, but the authority says it has commissioned "specialist cultural expertise" to look at the business case to turn it into a theatre.

An ABC spokesman said: "Surveyors and architects engaged by the council are carrying out a thorough structural survey of the building and this includes analysis of asbestos believed to be present within the old bingo club.

"Once these investigations are completed and we have the advice of the specialists, the council will be able to take a clear view on the way forward and this includes how best we deal with any asbestos found."

The Cinema Theatre Association (CTA) conducted a review of the building and wrote a letter to ABC in June to object against proposals to demolish the building.

Peter Wylde, who is an architectural caseworker at the CTA, says "asbestos is not a reason to demolish the building, it is an excuse".

He said: "Often cinemas do have some degree of asbestos but it can be removed while retaining the original features.

"That is not a reason to demolish the building, there are various cinemas around the country that contain asbestos.

"Removing asbestos would be part of the stage of conversion while retaining the assets."

A petition calling for the council to turn the old bingo hall into a theatre is expected to be debated in a full council meeting in December.

The campaign attracted more than 3,000 signatures.