THE days of the silver screen have returned to The Empire Cinema in Ewood, Blackburn.

Now reborn as the Thwaites Empire Theatre, its manager Dave Smith is aiming to bring top quality films on a monthly basis to the historic building that closed down as a cinema decades ago.

The first trial run as a picture house was last month, when the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was shown.

Now Dave has succeeded in booking the Oscar-winning film Chicago which will be screened on Saturday, May 3.

"Many people remember going to th'Empire back in the glory days of cinema," said Dave. "We aim to bring that magic back on a monthly basis.

"A lot of people still do not have the time to visit one of the multiplexes to see the latest films or they don't have the transport to get to those venues.

"There are no cinemas even in Darwen now so I thought I would fulfil the wishes of Darwen and Blackburn people and our regular patrons and treat them to the latest movies at our theatre."

When the theatre is transported back in time to become a cinema once again it has one of the biggest movie screens around.

"To accompany that, of course, we have that big movie sound which will make Chicago look and sound tremendous," said Dave.

Chicago is being screened on May 3 at 7pm.

Tickets are priced adults £5, children £3.50 (concessions £4) and are available from the Theatre Booking Office, Aqueduct Road, Ewood, Blackburn, or call 01254 680137.

They are also available from the Information Centre, in Railway Road, Darwen, or the Ewood Corner Shop, Bolton Road, Ewood, Blackburn.