CINEWORLD, which runs Weymouth's multi-screen cinema, has put itself up for sale in the hope of securing its future.

The company has more than 100 sites in the UK and Ireland thanks and more than 700 across the world.

Cineworld denied reports that it had been in discussions about the sale of its assets to AMC, the owner of the Odeon chain.

It said it would start a marketing process this month to sell its assets for a good value and expected to start contacting buyers this month.

Cineworld would not comment on who AMC claims to have spoken to over a possible sale of its cinemas, but said there had been no discussions with officials within the business, its advisers or lenders.

It said: “In light of recent media reports, Cineworld would like to clarify that neither it nor its advisers have participated in discussions with AMC Entertainment regarding the sale of any of its cinema assets.

“Cineworld also understands that neither the ad hoc group of lenders under the group’s 2018 credit facility nor its advisers were party to discussions with AMC.”

British-owned Cineworld filed for bankruptcy protection in the US in September after taking a big hit from weaker-than-expected audience numbers over the summer.

It plans to restructure the group and emerge from bankruptcy in the first three months of this year, which will maximise value for “moviegoers and all other stakeholders”.

The company said: “Cineworld has not initiated and does not intend to initiate a separate marketing process for the sale of any of its assets on an individual basis. Furthermore, any sale transaction for the group as a whole would not include the sale of Cineworld itself and would therefore not be subject to the rules of the [UK] Takeover Code.”

Cineworld warned that any sale was unlikely to benefit existing shareholders.

It said: "It is expected that any restructuring or sale transaction agreed with stakeholders will result in a very significant dilution of existing equity interests in Cineworld and there is no guarantee of any recovery for holders of Cineworld's existing equity interests."