Cineworld Group PLC is preparing to file for bankruptcy amid financial troubles, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The cinema chain, which has branches in Newcastle city centre, Boldon in South Tyneside and Dalton Park in County Durham, this week warned that audience numbers have been weaker than anticipated, and predict that figures will remain low until November amid 'limited' film releases.
The world's second largest cinema business - trailing 211 sites behind AMC - revealed earlier this week that it was 'assessing options to shore up its finances'.