As Frome's local independent cinema prepares to open on Friday this week, there has been a lovely debate in the community about the cinema which pre-dates the Cork Street venue.

In 1971, where the Westway now stands, there was The Gaumont picture house and it was three times the size.

As you can see it was a popular venue and there were many staff, including the aunt of Frome resident Bernadette McGowan, who was kind enough to allow us to share this photo.

The Gaumont was part of a picture house chain owned by Gaumont British Theatres and Albany Ward-Provincial Cinematograph Theatres(PCT), which at one time owned over 300 cinemas across the UK. The Frome cinema opened on 6th February 1939 and had 969 seats.

The Gaumont was taken over in 1967 and was re-named Classic Cinema. It closed just over three years later, on 10th January 1971, and was demolished later that year. The Westway shopping mall was built on the site with the cinema arm, which has 350 seats in total, opening in 1974.

Full details of what is on show at The Westway - and there are - excuse the pun - a lot of Christmas crackers by clicking HERE :