Councillors rejected plans to re-open Abingdon's Regal Cinema at a packed planning meeting last night.

The decision comes as a bitter blow to supporters of the plans - but will act as a tonic for people in the town who prefer the idea of an eight-screen multiplex being built on the edge of Abingdon instead.

However, Terry Gashe, the agent acting on behalf of Regal applicant Paul Kirwin, insisted their fight is still far from over - and revealed that both will speak at a public inquiry into the multiplex plans, which begins next Tuesday.

Members of the Vale of White Horse District Council's planning and development committee were asked to allow The Regal to re-open as a three-screen cinema, with 500 seats. Plans also included a pub/restaurant, which was condemned by some members of the committee.

Jerry Patterson, for the Liberal Democrats, told the meeting: "In an ideal world, most people would like to see a 1950s-style cinema in the centre of Abingdon."

"But what's proposed is a pub with a cinema upstairs, it is not a cinema with a pub downstairs."

Party colleague Keith Hasnip said: "A small cinema, yes, but, if in order to have that, you have got to have this huge theme pub on the ground floor, then people do not want that."

The final decision, by has now been delegated to the council's chief planning officer, is expected by Thursday (Oct 1).

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