STAGGERED screening times and enhanced cleaning among the measures being planned for the re-opening of a York cinema.

Vue, the company which has a cinema at Clifton Moor in York, has outlined an action plan using physical distancing measures, in anticipation of when it is able to operate again.

Hospitality buisnesses such as cinemas may be able to welcome back customers from July 4, but that will depend on the Covid-19 situation, the government has said.

The chain has said families would be able to safely sit together, away from strangers, to watch movies, and that it could control how many viewers went into the cinemas.

A spokesman said: “We have been liaising closely with authorities across Europe to design operating procedures that can provide the degree of social distancing required and allow an experience for our customers and staff that is as safe as possible.”

Step three of the government’s recovery plan could see leisure facilities such as cinemas reopen, along with pubs, hotels and food service providers if they meet the Covid-19 Secure guidelines.