LUCKY school children will be enjoying films for free at Blackpool's Odeon Cinema next week.

The cinema is screening a trio of top movies as part of National Schools Films Week, promoting the study of film in education.

And the fun starts on Monday (September 27) when primary school pupils will be invited to watch the Disney classic 101 Dalmations.

This will be followed by a showing of the animated tale A Bug's Life on Tuesday and the Oscar-winning film of the Jane Austen classic Sense And Sensibility on Thursday.

Pupils will also be given booklets and other support material by event organisers Film Education to help their studies at school.

Film Education director Ian Wall said: "We aim to create a bridge between cinemas and schools.

"By studying the films and then having back-up projects in class, pupils can learn about various topics across the curriculum in an imaginative and fun way.

"So pupils in Blackpool will be able to do a project about insects after watching A Bug's Life.

"Older pupils will be helped in their studies of Sense And Sensibility or other classics they are reading.

"By promoting the use of media across the curriculum and exam syllabus we aim to create a wider cinema audience for the future."

The film festival is part of a nationwide event for schools and colleges throughout the country with more than 200,000 children taking part.

The Film Education charity has also done work for the National Year of Reading over the past year, including special screening programmes and distributing film and literacy packs.

Any schools interested in making bookings for their pupils should ring (0171) 9303829.

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