VOLUNTEERS working to re-open the historic cinema in Wotton-under-Edge are celebrating after signing a lease with the building's owners and simultaneously announcing a major sponsorship drive.

The signing marks a significant milestone in the community project, organised by The Electric Cinema Company.

The latest development clears the way for builders and project workers to begin transforming the dilapidated cinema, which suddenly closed in October, 2002.

The sponsor-a-seat promotion gives people the chance to pay £100 for one of the 103 deluxe new seats to be installed in the Market Street building.

For those with deeper pockets there are also other sponsorship opportunities to assist in the purchase of essential technical equipment, such as a sound system and high-quality DVD/VHS players.

Electric Cinema Company chairman Jeff Walshe stated: "We are delighted that the lease has finally been signed because it means we can now get on with refurbishing the building.

Mr Walshe said the project has really been gaining momentum and the group had now raised more than £45,000 towards the £80,000 target.

"Local support for the cinema reopening is stronger than ever," said Mr Walshe. "So I am confident that our long-awaited sponsor-a-seat campaign will quickly push the total closer to our initial target."

People who contribute to the promotion will have their name entered on a roll of honour at the cinema - which has been renamed The Electric Picture House - and on the cinema's website, www.wottoneph.co.uk They will also be sent a certificate.

Alex Alliston-Greiner, who is managing the project for the co-operative formed to run The Electric Picture House, said discussions with the building's owners, Synwell Boxing Club, had taken longer than expected.

But he added he was very pleased to have agreed a lease that should secure the cinema's future for many years to come.

He explained: "The delays have obviously made it difficult to draw up a precise timetable for the refurbishment but, now that we have signed the lease, I can agree some dates with builders. Once these have been agreed, we can set a target date for reopening the cinema in a few months' time."

The next major fund-raiser will see the Chepstow Male Voice Choir staging a special concert in St Mary's Church tomorrow (7.30pm). The concert will also mark the official launch of the sponsor-a-seat promotion.

Fund-raising is likely to continue for some time after the cinema opening, because further improvements are planned beyond the work needed simply to re-open.

For more details of sponsor-a-seat people can contact electriccinema@onetel.net.uk or Jeff Walshe on 01453 843060.

Tickets for the concert are available from the Cotswold Care Hospice shop in Long Street.

* BUILDING work to restore the cinema in Wotton-under-Edge has been given a boost from the town council. At Monday's meeting members decided to release £3,500 set aside in the last two years' budgets to help with the campaign to restore the cinema that has been closed for more than 18 months.