Campaigners wanting to keep the Palace cinema in Longridge open have set themselves a major fundraising challenge.

More than £300,000 needs to be raised by the community fund and the clock is ticking.

Since starting its life as a weaving shed the Market Place cinema has gone on to become one of the oldest surviving cinemas in the North West.

Owner Dorothy has decided after 40 years showing movies it is time to end her run.

Project manager Ruth Smith has set up a campaign to save the Palace, which has a fanatical fan base.

Visitors to the Palace cinema can enjoy a brew in a mug while watching their film and the National Anthem is paid before the opening credits roll.

Ruth, 46, has lived in Longridge her whole life and wants to see it preserved as a cinema for community use.

The building is on the market for £330,000 and this is what Ruth and her team need to raise to buy it.

Ruth said: “The Cinema has been part of our local community and many of you will have enjoyed the latest hits there ….for some it will have been your first experience of seeing a film on the big screen!

“I am trying to raise the funding required to purchase The Palace Cinema, carry out necessary repairs and develop is purpose as a community asset.

“I’m going to set up this fund under a registered community charity/Community Interest Ltd Company which will be governed by a community committee.”

Read more: Why there is a great yarn to be had about Longridge

But Ruth has warned it’s an ‘all or nothing fund’, if they don’t hit the target by 6.20pm on 30 September the Palace could be sold to someone else and any donations made will be returned if the £330,000 is not met.

You can donate to help buy the Palace on the Crowdfunder page.

Will you be donating to the campaign? What do you think about the Palace? Let us know in the comments below