THE CINEMA building in Market Street, Wotton-under-Edge, has this week been given a make-over for the first time since closure.

A community placement team of inmates from Leyhill Open Prison stepped in to paint the outside of the cinema.

More than half the cost of the painting materials has been met by a grant from Stroud District Council under its 'shop-front scheme'.

The team has also offered to help out with refurbishing the interior in the coming months.

Some preparation was done last week, including weeding the area at the back of the building. This has been earmarked for a courtyard garden, to be used by cinema-goers attending matinee performances during the summer months.

On Tuesday and Wednesday the decorators turned their attention to transforming the whole of the outside of the building, particularly the street frontage.

Michelle Pegler-Richards, media relations officer for Leyhill Prison, said: "We always endeavour to help the community in anything they do and to put something back in return for the support that it gives us."

The supervised team was assisted by committee stalwarts Janet Walshe and Jan Biagioli, who provided the workers with hot meals, drinks and water.

Jeff Walshe, chairman of the Electric Cinema Company, said: "We are very grateful to the council and to the Leyhill staff and prisoners, who are doing a great job in making the cinema presentable again."

He added: "In the next few weeks, we expect to make a major announcement about future plans for the cinema re-opening."

The cinema closed in November, 2002, but a group of determined volunteers got together soon afterwards - and the Electric Cinema Company was formed.

Any group wanting further information on securing the help of Leyhill's community placement teams should contact the prison on 01454 264000.