THE waiting could be almost over at last. Bournemouth's IMAX cinema looks set to open in March 2002 under its original developer, the Sheridan Group.

Sheridan has been brought back to finish the project nine months after being thrown out because of continuing delays. The agreement is subject to legal documents being signed shortly.

The giant-screen cinema in the Waterfront complex will be two years and eight months late if it opens in March.

Mike Emsley, chief executive of Sheridan's PR firm Aylesworth Fleming, said: "It's been immensely frustrating and we seem to have been to-ing and fro-ing forever. We're just delighted that at last it appears that we're going to be able to bring off this attraction, which has been talked about probably more than any other in the history of Bournemouth.

"It's something that, as we've said so often, should be an attractive addition to Bournemouth's all-weather offer to residents and tourists."

The breakthrough came after a high-level meeting in London between Sheridan and the two financial institutions responsible for the Waterfront building - the Bank of Scotland and the pension fund NILGOS.

"Subject to them seeing in writing what they've agreed and getting it signed, which would be anything from two to 10 days, they have got an agreement," said Mr Emsley.

NILGOS ousted Sheridan from the Bournemouth project in January because of the delays. Sheridan, which had invested £4 million in Bournemouth, blamed the hold-ups on a legal dispute with the IMAX Corporation, which has since been resolved.

Cllr Brian Tokely, vice-chairman of Bournemouth Borough Council's leisure and tourism committee, said: "I'd be delighted if the scheme were to go ahead. But we've had so many disappointments in the past that to shout too high from the corner is perhaps the wrong thing to do.

"Let's hope that, with encouragement, we can go ahead and get it open."