Campaigners bidding to save a Wantage cinema breathed a sigh of relief today after an inspector threw out a plan to convert it into flats.

A Government planning inspector dismissed an appeal by the owners against a Vale of White Horse District Council decision to refuse planning permission to convert the 1920s Regal cinema into eight one-bedroom flats.

The owner of the Newbury Street site tried twice to change the use of the building and twice the application was turned down.

Town councillor Andy Crawford, a member of Friends of Wantage Cinema, said: "This is truly great news."