LEIGH Film Society is planning to expand into Tyldesley after being awarded 50 high quality black leather chairs.

The reward from the British Film Institute (BFI) for its first class delivery of community cinema will enable the not-for-profit organisation to start screening classic films at The Pelican Centre in Tyldesley as well as at the Turnpike Centre in Leigh.

This is the first of its outreach plans for delivering community cinema projects.

A spokesman for the BFI said: "Our Neighboughhood Cinema Fund has provided equipment to enhance the community cinema experience right across the UK.

"In the case of Leigh Film Society we were impressed by the way it intends to put on more screenings in more venues, offering a great range of films for the community across Wigan borough in a relaxed and welcoming manner.

"We wanted to be able to provide the necessary equipment so that the society could continue its senior citizen classic cinema club."

The society's monthly Afternoon Classic Cinema Club is for people who are elderly, lonely, socially isolated or living with dementia or mental illness, as well as for those who simply love classic movies.

It also offers evening screenings of non-mainstream, foreign language and art house films.

The society previously received £5,000 worth of community cinema equipment from the BFI in June 2015.

Elizabeth Costello, co-founder of the society, said: "We are so honoured to receive another award from the BFI in recognition of what we do.

"We have an amazing team of volunteers. All of them have passion and drive to bring quality films to Leigh and the wider borough.

"I think what our members like most about us is that we have a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

"We deliver quality screenings professionally and with the highest standard of technical equipment, and we are not for profit."