Douglas cinema is to close in the coming days to make way for a new supermarket

CinemaWorld in Douglas has confirmed that it is to close in the coming days.

The decision to close the cinema on Thursday, October 10 was taken some time back, following a fall in attendances as the direct result of increased competition.

Following the closure of the cinema, work will immediately begin on the transformation of the building into a new Aldi supermarket.

A spokesperson for Aldi said the new supermarket will provide 20 permanent jobs and up to 60 construction jobs during the building phase.

Construction of the store will begin in January next year, with plans to open towards the end of 2020.

The owners of CinemaWorld said this will ensure a continued vibrancy on the site in the centre of Douglas village.

CinemaWorld has traded in Douglas for the past 25 years, opening in August 1994.

Brendan Flannery of CinemaWorld said: "We will be sad to turn off the projectors for the final time on 10th Oct, but the cinema has struggled in the face of stiff competition in recent years."

"We thank our staff, and our loyal customers who supported us throughout the years. We are confident that the site has a bright future with the arrival of Aldi."

"We look forward to sharing memories with our regular patrons of the cinema over the coming week.”