A FESTIVAL to encourage younger audiences to visit the cinema in Saffron Walden proved a roaring success. Some 682 children and young people enjoyed the wide variety of films and workshops on offer during the weekend festival organised by Saffron Screen.

A FESTIVAL to encourage younger audiences to visit the cinema in Saffron Walden proved a roaring success.

Some 682 children and young people enjoyed the wide variety of films and workshops on offer during the weekend festival organised by Saffron Screen.

Among the 10 films on offer - and ones which proved extremely popular - included classics such as Laurel and Hardy and stunning British documentary, In the Hands of the Gods.

Chairman of Saffron Screen, Rebecca del Tufo, said: "We are passionate about film and wanted to show children that there is a real breadth of film available out there for them, other than the mainstream.

"Laurel and Hardy films, for instance, are in black and white and quite slow, but the children were in hysterics.

"Young people would not normally have access to these types of film and it gave a real different feel to the cinema."

During the weekend, festival-goers also had the chance to view some intriguing short films, take part in workshops in film make-up, create shadow puppets and quiz two talented film directors during a bubbling question and answer session.

"We had a really good range of ages in attendance and got some really positive feedback," said Ms del Tufo. "It was also great fun and hopefully something we can repeat in the future.