A £1 million Shropshire nightclub and restaurant could be open within three months creating 40 jobs, it was revealed today.

Costas Vanezi, of Medlink Enterprises Ltd, said work was already under way to strip out the former Athena nightclub in Telford Town Centre to make way for the new complex.

The new Chinese restaurant and club is part of the £1 billion transformation of the town centre to create a shopping and leisure complex known as The Round.

A planning application for the refurbishment of the Central Square nightclub, including elevation and signage changes, has now been submitted to Telford & Wrekin Council by Medlink Enterprises Ltd.

The plans come more than three years after the Athena nightclub closed its doors.

Mr Vanezi, who is also boss of the successful Pussycats nightclub and Whispers Wine Bar in Wellington, said: “We are hoping to open sometime towards the end of May or June.

“The whole complex with everything under one roof will be opening all at the same time. I am really looking forward to it.

“By the end, the transformation of the complex will have cost around £1million.”

Mr Vanezi said the restaurant would cater for more than 100 diners but he was unsure how many revellers the club area would hold as fire regulations had not yet been finalised.

The complex is part of the huge masterplan developed by owners Hark and Apollo Group. The plan has already seen the structure of the Primark building taking shape, tripling the size of the existing store which is expected to open in the spring.

A brand new health clinic is also due to open this year.