A community cinema in Bacup has ceased trading after four years in operation.

Bacup Community Cinema was opened in 2019 by Alan Boon and other volunteers from community group Bacup Now.

Now, the cinema has shown its last film and equipment will be given to an established community or church group in the area.

Posting to their Facebook page a spokesperson said: “It is with great sadness I have to announce the Bacup Cinema has shown its last film.

“I would like to thank all the volunteers that I have had the pleasure of working with over the last four years, I have met some lovely people.

“Closing down the group will take some time, closing accounts, talking to funders and just as importantly disposing of the equipment.

“It has been decided that the equipment will be given to an established community orchurch group in the valley, at this stage it will not be given or sold to a commercial operation.”

Since the announcement was made dozens of people have commented on the Facebook post, expressing their sadness.

One person said: “Oh my goodness this is so sad.

“It is a fantastic place you have worked really hard and built up something that was really loved.”

Another said: “You work hard to run this and it was a big plus for the community.”

A third person said: “So sad to hear this news.

“Alan, you have done an amazing service for the Bacup community and given so much happiness and pleasure to so many. Everyone is surely sending you every best wish.”

“Such a shame, it was fab while it lasted and will definitely be missed,” said another

When the cinema first opened, Alan said he and the team wanted to “create something for all the kids in the town”.

He said: "We want them to have the same things as we had when we were younger as we feel things like this have been taken away from them.

"It costs about £40 for a family to go to the cinema these days and some people just can't afford that.

"Ok, some people might have Sky TV or whatever but it's not the same as watching a film on the big screen and getting excited when the credits roll up.”

The cinema was initially based in The Royal Court Theatre but he cinema was forced to move when the pandemic struck. 

It had one showing at thee ABD centre before realising the 90-seat capacity and the poor-quality screen did not meet their standards.  

In 2022, the cinema teamed up with The Circle in Bacup, an arts, culture and events space that was opened by Freddy Khattab.

Freddy said: “As a lot of you may heard Bacup Cinema has shown their last film last week!

“We would like to thank Alan Boon and the team for all their hard work, we've had some amazing memories and are looking forward for whatever the future bring.”

Over the years, the community cinema showed a variety of films including The Polar Express, Toy Story 4, Elvis and more. 

Bacup Community Cinema declined to comment.