The bombed-out Hull theatre is once again going under the hammer later this month.

The current owner, Saleem Hakim, recently submitted a planning application to turn the front of the National Picture Theatre in Beverley Road into an alfresco dining area. He says those running The Swan restaurant next door want to use the ruins as a dining area.

Just over a year ago, Mr Hakim tried to sell the former theatre at auction. It was put up for sale with a reserve price of £60,000. But the bidding only reached £57,000 at the auction, which was held by Eddison's at Leeds United's Elland Road ground, which meant it remained unsold.

Mr Hakim believes planning permission of the alfresco use will make the site more attractive and has confirmed the front of the property will go to auction on Friday, June 26.

Located in Hull, Humberside, to the north of the city on Beverley Road at the corner of Fountain Road. Opened on 23rd December 1914, the National Picture Theatre was a long and fairly narrow cinema. It had a handsome facade in redbrick, dressed in Portland stone. There were 1,050 seats in stalls and balcony levels. The proscenium was 24 foot wide, and to begin with there was a resident orchestra. The National Picture Theatre took a direct hit during a raid in March 1941.