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Sheerness Enhancement Association for Leisure prepare to show ET - the final movie to be screened at open-air film festival in Beachfields Park

There is only one more chance to make the most of a free, open-air film festival in Sheerness.

The outdoor cinema in Beachfields Park, off Royal Road, has been hailed as a success by organiser Sheerness Enhancement Association for Leisure (SEAL) as it has attracted hundreds of people each time.

Saturday’s movie was Dirty Dancing and around 250 people took their places on the grass to watch the Patrick Swayze classic.

Crowds at the opening of SEAL's outdoor cinema
Crowds at the opening of SEAL's outdoor cinema

SEAL chairman Chris Foulds said: “It went really well and was the most popular one yet.

“A big cheer went up at the ‘Don’t put baby in the corner’ line.”

The final film in the programme will be family classic ET on Saturday, June 28.

Anyone is welcome to go along with their own chairs or blankets from about 8.30pm.

In previous weeks Disney’s Frozen, Abba musical Mamma Mia and Oz: The Great and Powerful have been shown on the giant inflatable screen.

SEAL hopes to put on more films later in the summer but Mr Foulds said members were going to have to look at how the project is funded if it is to return next year.

The film licence and events notice is costing the association £230 each time.

Buckets passed around the audience usually raise between £30 to £40, although revenue has also been raised through donations from businesses and advertisers.

Mr Foulds said they were looking at improving the equipment next time to reduce the problem of glare from sunlight on the screen so the films can be shown earlier in the day.

He said: “It’s a bit of a struggle. We might have to start charging. This isn’t money going to SEAL, it’s going to support further films.”

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