AN historic cinema in Tenbury Wells has been selected as a venue for Britain's largest rural film festival, just months after it was devastated by flood water.
Following the summer floods of 2007, four feet of contaminated water entered the Regal Cinema in Teme Street, causing extensive damage to the auditorium. This was made worse by the water mixing with fuel oil leaking from the heating system.
The cinema had only just been taken over by a group of volunteers led by Ben Bydawell when the disaster struck, just a week before celebrations for its 70th anniversary. Mr Bydawell said: "We had shown three films and were about to show a fourth when the cinema flooded.
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"We had a season of a further eight films booked which all had to be cancelled."
Specialists firm Ross Environmental Products from Kidderminster were called in to clear up the mess using oil
digesting "bugs" and seven months on the unique cinema, built in art deco style, with colourful Mediterranean murals on its walls, has a new floor, carpets, seats and screen.
It has been selected as one of the venues for the Borderlines Film Festival. The sixth Borderlines Film Festival gets under way in March and runs for two weeks, with the best of world cinema on offer.
Other films showing at the cinema in future include Diving Bell And The Butterfly, Sweeny Todd, There Will Be Blood and The Assassination of the Outlaw Jesse James.
To book tickets call Books Books Books in Teme Street on 01584 819587.
FILM FESTIVAL TIMES:
The Lives of Others - Friday, April 11 at 8pm;
Enchanted - Saturday, April 12 at 2.30pm;
Buster Keaton comedy double bill with Sherlock Junior and One Week Sunday - Saturday, April 12 at 7.30pm;
Gone to Earth - April 13 at 4.30pm;
Atonement - Sunday, April 13 at 7.30pm
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