Plans for a major hotel, retail, leisure and office development are pressing ahead, despite proposals for a separate similar development in the town.

Outline plans were approved two years ago to build a 12-storey, 300-bed hotel, a car showroom, a large retail building for non-food goods, a restaurant and a fast food drive-thru at St Helen's Business Park, off the A596 in Workington.

Those behind said the leisure, retail and office development - opposite Dunmail Park - could create the equivalent of 831 full-time jobs.

Detailed plans have not yet been submitted for the project, and last month plans were revealed for a Travelodge, a Martson's pub and restaurant, and a Costa Coffee drive-thru cafe on land between William Street and Church Street.

But Donald Dixon, a director of Dunmail Park and of MWD Estates, which owns the development site, said work was pressing ahead with the project north of the River Derwent.

He said MWD Estates was in talks with potential hotel operators and other possible tenants for the development.

He added: "We're making good progress. We've had quite a lot of interest."

When the plans were revealed in early 2016, Mr Dixon said he hoped the development would be built over the next three to four years.

But this week he said the talks, which have been ongoing for about nine months, were likely to be lengthy.

"I expect it to go ahead," he added.

Commenting on the Travelodge plan, he said: "That would be of a different appeal, and a different operating group."

There is plenty of scope for the town to support two new hotels, he added: "Particularly with all the things that are ongoing possibilities for the Energy Coast."

Meanwhile, the plans for the Travelodge development, by Hinton Group, will have to be voted on by Allerdale Council's development panel.

Councillor Mark Jenkinson, who represents Seaton, has called in the proposal after locals raised concerns to him about the impact the plan would have on town centre trade, as well as access and traffic.

Mr Jenkinson, who sits on the panel, said: "There hasn't been an economic impact assessment published and the council can't point me towards one even though it's a requirement in the local plan.

"I'd expect there to be an assessment carried out that highlights the postive impact on jobs and spend, and any negative impact on other businesses."

He added that he was not necessarily against the plans, but he felt sufficient information was needed in order for the council to make a decision and for the process to be transparent.