FILM fans in a North Yorkshire village are looking forward to the launch of a new venture.

Villagers in Kirk Hammerton, near York, have been given National Lottery funding to launch their own film club.

A new projector, audio equipment, PA system, DVD player and two lap top computers have been bought for the use of the village with the Lottery grant of £4,653.

Organiser Charles Freestone said: "Living in a rural community like ours, it can be difficult for both young and older people to get access to big screen entertainment.

"So we decided if they can't get to the cinema, let's bring the cinema to them."

The club will enjoy its first showing this Monday, with one of last year's surprise hits, British spy film Enigma.

The club is not in competition with the big cinemas, showing films a few months after they have been in the main cinemas, and showing old films on request, with Westerns high on the list.

Charles said: "There is so much more we can do with it as a club. We have not converted the room into a traditional cinema with rows of seats, but have kept table groups, it has a kind of nightclub feel.

"We also serve food in keeping with the film. We are soon showing Blazing Saddles, a comedy western, famous for a classic scene with baked beans - that should be an interesting night."

The club accommodates 80 members for the monthly showings at the village hall. There are currently 20 places left for newcomers, with an annual membership fee of £18.

The club has also purchased two lap top computers for the use of residents in the village. They will help people to use simple programmes and the internet.

Charles said: "I have lived in Leeds for many years, where you have everything on your doorstep. Here, in a rural community like this, many people have never even been on the internet.

"This is giving us the chance to open new doors for people, and we hope other villages will follow our lead to make these moves forward."

Updated: 09:26 Friday, March 28, 2003