Opposition is mounting to plans to close the only cinema in Wantage and turn the building into a block of flats.

Helen Aldridge, James Andrews, Lesley Ford and Roger Diamond, pictured from left

Petitions have been launched by film fans, including Helen Aldridge, James Andrews, Lesley Ford and Roger Diamond and local businesses who say the cinema is a vital asset to the town.

An application to convert the privately run Regent theatre into eight one-bed flats aimed at first time buyers has been submitted to the Vale of the White Horse District Council.

Giles Mortimore, who lives and works in the town centre, said many people would miss the cinema badly.

"One person said to me as he signed the petition that if we lost the cinema we may as well lock up the town and leave.

"It makes that much difference, especially to the young people in the town and other local businesses which will be affected by a fall in the number of people using the town centre at night.

"The pubs and restaurants will suffer. It's the only entertainment here."

Geraldine Hunt, who works in the town and uses the cinema, said: "The cinema is one of the very few places children and young people can make use of in the town and at a time when many towns are making use of curfew methods to keep this age group off the streets."

The cinema owners say the business has been losing money over the last five years and has suffered a drop in annual audiences from 53,000 to about 47,000 in the past three years.

Susan Kirwin, who runs the two-screen cinema, also faces a large bill for roof repairs and other building work to comply with new regulations on disability access which would cost more than £50,000.

"It is a sad day, but in all reality we cannot continue making a loss," she said. "With other work required, the future is just not viable.

"We shall be sad to close, but I don't see any alternative."

No closure date has yet been set.