PLANS have been revealed to create a new cinema in Largs - and make it free for the community to use.

The ambitious move would see a site in the town converted to bring Hollywood movies back to the town for the first time since Barrfields Theatre closed down its cinema almost 30 years ago.

St John's Church in Largs is behind the proposal to transform Dunn Memorial Hall into the modern facility.

Blockbusters and classic films would both feature as part of the ambitious plan for the upgrading of the hall, which has been in use since the 1930s.

A major fundraising campaign has been launched to refurbish the hall, and as part of the strategy, plans drawn up to create the new facility.

The last movie theatre in Largs was based at Barrfields and before that films were shown at the Viking Cinema in Irvine Road, pictured, and the George in Waterside Street, but these closed in the 1960s and 70s.

Barrfields Cinema showed blockbusters including Moulin Rouge, Saving Private Ryan and Titanic in the 1990s, but was deemed unsustainable.

All that is remaining in the town currently is a local film club which meets in the Vallhalladrome Theatre.

Reverend Jonathan Fleming said: "For somewhere like Largs, and neighbouring towns, it is a good idea for a cinema to return.

"Right now people need to go to Saltcoats, Greenock or Linwood, and it is a trek to get there, especially in the winter, so it would be good to have something local.

"Having been on the go since the 1930s, the Dunn Memorial Hall is looking quite tired, and is in need of refurbishment and rejuvenation.

"The hall is always busy with various events including Boys' and Girls' Brigade meetings, coffee mornings and various church things.

"The Dunn Memorial is a C listed building - we want to get it redecorated with new sound system and flooring.

"The long term vision would be to see the hall then used as a community cinema.

"It is an art deco building with a beautiful atmosphere and a lovely stage. Imagine the huge widescreen, comfortable seats and the surround sound. It could be an excellent venue for movies.

"It would be lovely if we could mimic the colour scheme of former cinemas in Largs.

"The plan would be to run a couple of movies a month with some of the latest releases. We wouldn't take money for showing the movies - it would all be free. "We already the licence in place that allows us to show movies, as long as we are not charging an admission fee.

"Even Millport gets the Screen Machine which shows the latest films, and we see an opportunity here for Dunn Memorial Hall."

The hall would still be used for community events and Rev. Fleming hopes that the cinema become a focal point for the town at special times of the year.

He added: "Classic movies such as 'It's A Wonderful Life' could be shown too - there would be nothing better on Christmas Eve.

"It is an idea of mine which I had introduced previously at Erskine Parish Church - and a lot of people in St John's are saying how great they think it would be."