A MALVERN town councillor has launched a proposal for Saturday morning film matinees for older people to be launched at Malvern Cinema.

Coun Alistair Macmillan wants to hold a 10-week trial season to test the viability of his idea, which he says might help the theatres trust to increase revenue and reduce the costs of running the cinema.

And he is also calling for the cinema to replace its existing projection equipment with a DVD projector, which he says will allow it to show a more varied programme.

He says the town council could make a grant to Malvern Theatres Trust to cover half the cost of the new projector, up to a limit of £7,500.

Coun Macmillan says his proposed Saturday matinee should replace the current Thursday afternoon film showing, which he says rarely attracts more than 30 viewers.

The Saturday screenings could be of classic films from recent decades, rather than a repeat of that week's evening showing.

He said: "I've been to film showings at Pershore and Tewkesbury, and they both run morning matinees for older people which are very well attended.”

At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, the town council agreed to refer Coun Macmillan's idea to the next meeting of the finance committee on November 24.

Malvern Theatres' chief executive Nic LLoyd said: "At this current time we have no plans to do morning film screenings."