TWO of Scarborough's best known landmarks - The Futurist Theatre and The Mere - have been put on the market in a bid to attract multi-million pound investment into the resort's holiday attractions.

This week, the borough council's development and regulation committee approved planning briefs for both sites.

Derek Rowell, director of technical services, said the Futurist had a wide range of possibilities including a cinema, leisure attractions, an exhibition hall, museum, night club, pub, restaurant or hotel.

The 2100-seat theatre has been put on the market because the council cannot afford the £1m needed to upgrade its facilities and instead plans to concentrate all its entertainments at the Spa Theatre and Grand Hall in the long term.

The theatre where some of the biggest names in show business have appeared over the years, including Shirley Bassey, Andy Williams and Dame Margot Fonteyn, is being marketed nationwide as a major investment opportunity on the heart of Scarborough's seafront.

Meanwhile, the 19-acre Mere - famed for carrying generations of holidaymakers on the Hispaniola to Treasure Island in the centre of the lake - could become the home for a visitor centre, restaurant, pub or leisure facility, and a haven for low-key recreational use because of its wealth of wildlife, fishing and bird-watching facilities, said Mr Rowell.

"Both these areas are superb sites for investment which could add considerably to Scarborough's appeal as a leading holiday resort".

Meanwhile, following talks between council bosses and Clear Channel Entertainments, which leases the Futurist from the council, it has been announced that the theatre will be staging summer season shows next year.

Chief executive John Trebble said it made good sense to keep the theatre open while it was being marketed.

"We recognise that it could take some time to find a purchaser and work up a scheme for its redevelopment. We certainly don't want the theatre to go dark in the meantime."

Updated: 11:03 Thursday, December 20, 2001