A GAY bar will shake up Dudley's nightlife when it opens its doors in April.

Christopher Marson noticed there was a gap in the market when he moved to the town six months ago.

"I was shocked that there wasn't anywhere to go unless you're over 40 and like drinking mild," he said.

"There is nothing for the younger people unless they go to Wolverhampton or Birmingham and that increases costs so often they don't bother going out."

Determined to inject some fun into the town, Christopher quickly started scouting the town for possible venues.

Rock Zombie, which was shut down by police in August last year after a spate of violent crimes, fit the bill as it only required minor modifications to transform it into Bar Diva.

"Gay bars used to be very exclusive but there has been a rise in non-attitude bars," he said.

"Bar Diva will be for everyone, whether you're straight, gay, lesbian or trans.

"Everyone is welcome and everyone will be treated equally, with the focus being on a good night out with great entertainment. This in essence is what Bar Diva is about.

"Our aim is to not only create a great night experience for everyone but bring people into Dudley helping other businesses such as eateries, taxis, hotels and shops thrive."

He plans to split the bar into two rooms, one where people can sit and relax and another where revellers can hit the dancefloor to a mixture of club hits and cheesy pop, played by the resident drag queen DJ.

The troubles of his predecessors weigh on Christopher's mind so he plans to install the latest ID technology including CCTV, fingerprint membership entry and facial recognition software with a zero tolerance on drug and violence - as well as set up a Pub Watch scheme to share information with other premises.

He added: "I don't want a repeat of what happened previously at Rock Zombie. I want it to be a safe and fun environment."

Christopher is also looking for investors to come on board in return for a stake in the company.

Potential investors should visit www.bardiva.co.uk to find out more.