MORE building problems are holding up work to complete Fare-ham's long-awaited £30m Market Quay development by up to five months.

Developers have admitted they are now four to five months behind their original schedule to have the retail and leisure venue fully up and running.

But they have refused to give the reason for the delays.

A number of opening dates have come and gone for parts of the development.

Many of Market Quay's retailers are already open and doing a roaring trade, but film lovers will have to wait until next summer for a five-screen multiplex cinema.

Associate director of Miller Developments Adele Peattie said: "Any problems are being dealt with.

"We're now about four or five months behind our original intended dates, but we anticipate that the cinema won't be held back too much longer.

"Work is ongoing and is partially completed. Most of the tenants are in and fitting out.

"We're still hoping to have the majority of building work clear and finished by Christmas."

The centre's cinema will now be handed over to owners Apollo for a 22-week fit-out sometime in January.

The majority of the centre's shops are now occupied - flagship stores Wilkinsons and TK Maxx taking up residence in August.

LA Fitness opened their health and fitness centre earlier this month.

Handovers to all other retailers are said to be "imminent".

The former United Reformed Church will be developed into a restaurant or entertainment venue during the next phase of work early next year, but negotiations are still ongoing.

A major civic celebration to commemorate the opening of the development that has been 20 years in the pipeline is due to take place in April.

Building work on the town centre site began in February last year.