Plans to breathe new life into a derelict former cinema could be submitted any day, it has been revealed.

The owners of The Regent in Deal have given assurances to the leader of Dover District Council, Trevor Bartlett, that a planning application to revive the beloved building is "imminent".

It comes as the historic site - opposite the beach - has fallen into major disrepair since it became vacant 14 years ago, not least because of a fire last year.

Campaigners have long-fought for its return to glory, including sending out a ‘Mayday distress call’ last year in a bid to prompt the owners to take action.

Now, a spokesman for DDC says the owners will soon re-submit plans to bring it back to life.

"The leader of the council had a recent meeting with the owners and was reassured that a planning application is imminent," they said.

The Regent first opened in 1928 as a concert hall for military bands.

It became The Regent cinema in 1933 but shut in 1963.

It was turned into a bingo hall but that closed in 2009. It has been empty since..

Owners James Wallace and Mark Digweed were granted planning permission to reopen the cinema with two screens and a restaurant on July 18, 2019, after purchasing the freehold in April 2011.

But the three-year deadline to carry out the work was missed so the permission has now expired.

Members of community group Reopen the Regent have made repeated demands for the Art Deco building's revival as a cinema.

Fay Franklin, from the group, said: "The Regent was sold in April 2011 by DDC with the expressed intention of it becoming a cinema for Deal again.

"Our members have had enough – nearly 12 years on, it’s time for DDC to get things moving."

Campaigners have said the building has fallen into disrepair and further damage was caused to it by a fire last June.

Calls for action have also come from Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke, who recently visited the structure in Beach Street.

She said: "After the fire I gained assurances from the council that the site owners were soon to resubmit their planning application to restore this building.

"More than six months on, these plans have still not materialised.

“This has gone on long enough. It’s time for action on The Regent."

The nearest cinema to Deal is in Sandwich, which is six miles away and a 15-minute car journey.

Dover's Silver Screen cinema, which is 20 minutes from Deal, is temporarily closed. The town also has a Cineworld.

KentOnline has attempted to make contact with the owners for them to comment.