MOVIE magic is reeling film-buffs in to Poole UCI and making it one of the busiest cinemas in the country.

A national report has revealed that Britain is cinema crazy with attendances this August up by 44 per cent over last year.

But in Poole the increases are even bigger. On Saturday, August 18, the multiplex was the second busiest in the country with only the cinema in the Trafford Centre, Manchester, having more custom.

It sums up a great summer, which saw 28,252 film-lovers flock to Tower Park in the week commencing August 9 - an increase of 73 per cent on last year.

And in the week commencing August 16 this year, cinema staff welcomed 20,716 visitors through their doors - an increase of 49 per cent on last year.

Office manager Susi Teall said the secret of their success was a good blend of family-orientated films and a dose of miserable wet weather.

She said: "We're normally in the top 10 busiest cinemas nationally but to be second is astounding. That just shows the number of holidaymakers who will come to the cinema if it rains and they can't think of anything else to do."

And the record attendances come at a time when many critics have slated this summer's offering of films.

"Planet of the Apes, Cats and Dogs and Jurassic Park 3 are all doing well but Shrek is just constantly bringing them in," she said.

"It's such a well-written film that both kids and adults absolutely love it.

"If it goes on to make the money that I think it will, it will certainly have made Disney sit up and take notice."