CAMPAIGNERS trying to get the old David Lean Cinema reopened will take their fight directly to council members on Monday.

Supporters of the cinema, closed by the Tory council as part of its budget cutting exercise, will be demonstrating outside the town hall before the full council meeting.

Inside, Labour shadow cabinet member for arts and culture, Councillor Maggie Mansell, will present a petition containing more than 300 signatures, urging the council to rethink the closure decision.

Supporters have also tabled a series of public questions to Councillor Sara Bashford, the council's cabinet member for culture and sport.

The demonstration comes just over a week after the David Lean opened in its new guise at Fairfield Halls, with a programme already being condemned by campaigners as "no substitute for the real thing".

They are continuing their fight despite an unequivocal statement from Ms Bashford, who previously told the Advertiser: "The campaigners are a group of people who are getting themselves worked up about a decision which has already been taken, has been implemented and won't be changed."

Adrian Winchester, chairman of the Save The David Lean Cinema Campaign, said: "I think Sara Bashford is underestimating the strength of the campaign.

"We are not just looking at stating our objections, our aim is to come up with alternative plans which we hope the council can respond to positively."