Borough councillors have given the green light to a multi-million pound project to revamp Hinckley town centre.

The proposals include improved sports facilities, a cinema, a new leisure centre and more shops.

The plans, to cover a five to 15-year period, also include 500 new homes which council chiefs say will be affordable to local people.

'More passion'

Deputy chief executive of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Bill Cullen said: "It will cover an extensive part of the town, ranging from the railway station all the way through to Stockwell Head, near our Concordia Theatre.

"It will also include the area of Argent's Mead where we're planning substantial improvements to the green space, with an investment of �150,000 from the council."

Town centre manager Mark Foster added: "Hinckley is quite a vibrant market town but, as we know, market towns throughout the country are struggling a little bit and we need something to put a little bit more passion into the town."