Bradford's Odeon cinema has been sold to a mystery buyer.

Odeon Cinemas said today the building had been sold, following its closure last month after 70 years of screening films in the city centre.

Regeneration chiefs welcomed the news but said they had no idea a deal had been agreed. Rumours have sugguested the cinema could become a major nightclub, but no planning application has been received.

An Odeon spokesman would not name the buyer or the selling price but said use would be in line with planning guidelines. The site is earmarked for leisure in the Unitary Development Plan, a blueprint designating land use across the district.

The building is close to the multi-million pound leisure development planned at Glydegate by Leeds London Holdings.

Director Peter McManus, whose scheme includes pubs, restaurants and a new public square, said: "It is good news for the city and the West End. It would have done no good whatsoever for this building to have stood empty over a long period."

The council's executive member for regeneration, Councillor Simon Cooke, said: "Clearly, it is an important building and it is important that it should enhance the city."

Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said: "I think it is extremely important that it should come back into use as soon as possible."

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "It is excellent news for the city centre and its regeneration."

The cinema shut when Odeon opened a 16-screen multiplex cinema at the Gallagher Leisure Park in Thornbury. The closure has left the city centre without a major mainstream cinema until a proposed Cine-UK multiplex opens on the planned Vicar Lane leisure scheme next year.