Ambitious plans to reopen the former Regent Bingo Hall as a top-class cinema are set to roll after the keys were handed to the new owners.

The district council has sold its seafront building to two businessmen from Kingsdown, James Wallace and Mark Digweed, who have masterminded proposals for the iconic building.

Mr Digweed said: "The wait is over and it is exciting. Now James and I will have to sit down and go through everything, starting with remedial work.

"Structural problems have held up our plans and it is an old building. Further surveys will be carried out and we must get in there are stop the rot and decay."

Mr Digweed and Mr Wallace announced their plans to rescue the Regent in June last year and aim to retain its original style and feature.

Mr Wallace said he was delighted with the sale and was looking forward to the renovation programme ahead.

He added: "Once complete we would like people to come to Deal to experience our new cinema along with some of the great local bars and restaurants Deal has to offer.

"Our aim is to bring money to local businesses for the all-round benefit and revival of our community."

The two businessmen masterminded their proposals for Silver Screen Cinemas. Mr Wallace's father Alexander, known as Sandy, went into the cinema industry in 1972, rising through the ranks to open his first cinema - Flicks in Queen Street, Deal - in 1986.

Silver Screen was established the same year and developed three other cinemas in Folkestone, Dover and Whitstable.

* The Regent on Deal seafront opened in 1928. It was converted to a bingo hall in 1965, having previously been used as a cinema, but closed in January 2009.