A CAMPAIGN has been launched to purchase the old Lyme Regis cinema site and build a new venue.

The Lyme Regis Regent cinema was destroyed in a fire in March 2016.

At the time, owners WTW-Scott Cinemas said it 'fully intended' to rebuild it, but little action has been taken since.

A campaign group has now been created, 'Save Lyme Regis Cinema', and already has more than 1,300 followers on Facebook.

The group was created after WTW-Scott Cinemas offered the site to Lyme Regis Town Council as a community asset, an offer which was turned down.

The owners said it was highly unlikely they would be in a position to consider rebuilding the cinema for a considerable length of time.

It was suggested that the building and land could be passed to the town council to take on the rebuild. Town clerk John Wright said the role is better suited for an experienced cinema operator or a commercial developer.

Mark Howarth, who co-founded Save Lyme Regis Cinema group along with Eve Edmeades, said: "We heard the new that the council had been offered the cinema and thought it was a really good opportunity to see if we could get some excitement built up to see if we could possibly save this asset.

"We quickly created the group and it has ballooned from there. We feel we need to move quick to see if what we can do is plausible and how it could potentially be done, as the owners clearly want to get rid of it.

"I think it's incredibly important that we save this cinema which has been such a landmark for so many years. The town hasn't been the same without it."

The plan is for the group to start a community interest company and raise the funds to purchase the site. A number of directors would be at the helm, but the building would be owned by the people of Lyme Regis. It would be run as a not-for-profit so any funds contributed would go towards the running of the cinema.

As part of the campaign, a petition has been launched with an aim to obtain 1,000 signatures - showcasing the support behind the idea.

The petition describes the current site as an 'eyesore' and an 'embarrassment' and states that the group believes funding can be found, through grants and crowdfunding to rebuild the landmark.

It currently has more than 1,400 signatures.

The fire five years ago was believed to have begun due to an electrical fault. Eight crews from across Dorset, Devon and Somerset were called to the scene where the building was engulfed in flames and the roof of the historic building collapsed.

Campaigners are currently looking for those with experience in finance, fundraising, legal matters, planning and forming companies or charities to come forward to form a 'steering committee'.

To join the group, search 'Save Lyme Regis Cinema' on Facebook.