A WORCESTER cinema is celebrating 65 years of keeping film fans glued to the big screen.

The Odeon on Foregate Street — Worcester's oldest surviving cinema — is marking the milestone this year.

Worcester has been home to eight cinemas over the years — including the Scala, the Northwick, and more recently, the Vue, which is based on Friar Street — and the site of the Odeon was home to the Public Library and Hastings Museum building, originally built in 1835.

By the 1860's the museum went into decline and was eventually remodelled as the Victoria Institute, with the Silver Cinema opening in the converted building in 1915.

In 1950 the single-screen Odeon cinema opened its doors to show its first film, the Rocking Horse Winner, directed by Anthony Pelissier.

Kelly Smith, Odeon general manager, said: "We are extremely proud of our cinema's long and interesting history within the community and that it has been providing entertainment for 65 years now.

"Looking to the future we will continue to provide an entertaining experience for our guests during the rest of the great releases of 2015, to infinity and beyond."

The cinema has grown to contain seven screens, the largest seating more than 250 people.

Team member, James Taundry, said: "As a child I used to love this place and now I work here, helping to keep it that magical place I saw it as in my childhood.

"I remember the excitement of knowing I would be seeing a film on the weekend, and constantly talking about it with my friends at school.

"I'm sure many in the community look at Odeon Worcester with the same fond memories, ones we all hope to continue helping to create as we look to the future."