DORCHESTER film-goers have been praised for saving their town's only cinema after it was nearly forced to close.

Former Thomas Hardye School pupil Martin Dunn, who rose from managing the Plaza in Trinity Street to be operations director for the owners, Reel Time Cinemas, has revealed that customer numbers were slashed by half when Weymouth's new multiplex opened three years ago.

The slump in figures nearly sounded the death knell for the Plaza, which opened in 1932 with the film King Kong. But customers slowly came back and now the company intends to open two new screens and even hopes to run a wine bar at the complex in a £1 million-plus development.

Reel Time is buying up the old bingo hall building - vacated in August 2001 after a £4,000 burglary made it impossible for the owners to carry on - and converting it to be able to offer four movie choices, including popular art films.

Mr Dunn said: "I know I'm not supposed to favour one cinema in our chain, but I have so much affection for it, having run it years ago. "I don't think people realise just how close it was to closing for good, and then the county town would have been without a cinema.

"But the customers came back and supported us - without them and the hard work of the staff and manager Chris McDonald it would be all over."

The old bingo hall, on the ground floor of the cinema complex, which has changed hands several times over the years, was the source of speculation after developers revealed plans to convert the building into flats.

But now it could be converted into an extra two screens - providing disabled access to the cinema for the first time - by the end of this year. Plans for a coffee or wine bar will have to be submitted to planners.

Mr Dunn added: "The first thing to happen will be that the foyer area will be opened up and restored to the way it used to be. We will do a bit of tarting up of the front, with new doors and maybe some lighting, but preserve the character of the place."