CAMPAIGNERS celebrated last night after an historic Merseyside cinema won £50,000 to renovate its exterior.

Thousands of people registered their support for the independent Crosby Plaza as it went head-to-head with Manchester-based Zion Studio in the People’s Millions vote on Granada Reports on Wednesday.

The huge show of public support ended with the landmark cinema winning the cash which is part of The Big Lottery Fund’s drive to distribute nearly £8m to community causes nationwide.

Francis Cassidy, the Plaza’s chief executive, said: “We are thrilled. I am not sure exactly how many votes we got but I am told we won by a decent margin.

“We have had so much support from the local community and votes from others parts of the country were registered as well.

“The Plaza will look magnificent once the facelift has been completed and hopefully will attract more and more people through its doors.

“Then we can start to renovate the inside too.”

Mr Cassidy thinks fond memories held by many people in the community helped to get the votes.

“Every person you speak to around here has a story to tell about the Plaza – whether it is the place they had their first kiss, or the place they used to sneak into during childhood.

“And movies are also very evocative.

“Cinemas are special places, you are on your own but sharing an experience at the same time.

“We want to build on this success and encourage people to come in and use the cinema more. More work on the interior could then follow. This place could be such a huge attraction.

“We are all so happy and cannot wait to get on with planning work. The volunteers have worked very hard and it has paid off.”

Details of the design are expected to be finalised next year.

The 1,460-seater art deco venue has just celebrated a decade since being reopened after its closure in the 1990s. Last month an ambitious £14m scheme to knock down and rebuild the community cinema and adjacent civic hall was scrapped.

The Plaza is not the only People’s Millions finalist in the region. On last night’s Granada Reports, Warrington council’s Enfield Park – Returned to the Community refurbishment project battled it out against a similar scheme in Padiham.

The result is expected to be announced today.

lizawilliams