British films.

Byline: Alex Black

I AM sure that readers were as delighted as I to hear of the amazing success the British film Slumdog Millionaire at the recent Oscars Presentations in Hollywood.

My wife Janet, and I enjoyed the film, even though parts of it were very disturbing.

It is good to see that our film industry is doing so well and this is due, in no small measure, to some clever tax credits introduced in the 2005 Budget by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer and now Prime Minister Gordon Brown. These tax credits, introduced in January 2007 have provided support to around 100 British films to the tune of about pounds 104m Cinema attendances were at a five-year high in January with several brilliant films, including 'Slumdog Millionaire' on offer and Janet and I have never before attended the cinema as frequently as in the past couple of months.

It is a pity that the Odeon, Chester's last remaining city centre cinema, closed a couple of years ago, missing all this success.

I cannot help but feel that Odeon Group's decision to sell their building to Brooke Leisure and to close the cinema was hasty and ill thought out. Surely it is time for it to be re-opened.

Alex Black, Chester