CREATIVE Rural Communities (CRC), the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Rural Regeneration team, has launched the Vale Rural Cinema - a chance for local communities to access cinema showings in local venues. And one of the first communities to benefit is Dinas Powys.

Film showings will be launched in February at Murchfield Community Centre using the new cinema equipment, which is loaned out by CRC. It means that people will be able to see some of the latest blockbusters on their doorstep, with the following showings planned: * Saturday, February 9 – Gambit * Saturday, March 9 – Quartet * Saturday, April 13 – Skyfall * Sunday, May 12 – Les Miserables The Vale Rural Cinema project came about as a result of the success of Cowbridge’s Big Screen, and a desire in other villages to show films, and CRC have purchased mobile cinema equipment that can be transported to locations around the rural Vale.

Mari-Wyn Elias-Jones, Senior Rural Regeneration Officer at the Vale Council, said: "CRC recognise that rural communities in the Vale have to travel far to access the big multiplexes, and travel and refreshments can make the experience very expensive.

"However, it’s difficult for local cinema showings to compete with these large multiplexes. The key to their success is offering something different to viewers, something more sociable, relaxed and affordable."

While CRC provide the equipment, the scheme relies on local volunteers to organise the screenings.

Stephen Nottingham is co-ordinating the events in Dinas Powys.

He said: "We want to bring the cinema experience to the doorstep of the Dinas Powys community.

"We hope it will become a popular and regular social event.

"It's still early days but I think there is a bit of a buzz around the scheme.

"We are very grateful to Creative Rural Communities and the boom in community cinema in the Vale is largely due to them."

The scheme has already been running for a few months in Llancarfan, with sell-out performances, and there - as well as at Dinas Powys and the Gathering Place at St Athan - CRC has funded blackout blinds for the venues.

* Tickets for the screenings in Dinas Powys are available at the local post offices and at the DPVC office. For more information on the project visit www.facebook.com/#!/MurchfieldCommunityCentre or www.twitter.com/Murchfield If you’d like to start a cinema club at your local community, or would like to take advantage of the mobile cinema equipment contact Mari-Wyn Elias-Jones on 01446 704637 or mwelias-jones@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk