FATHER Christmas will be bringing many gifts on Saturday – but cinema lovers in Alton are hoping one of them is a big bucket of cash.

A survey by the Save Alton’s Cinema group found 95 per cent of respondents wanted to keep the cinema and 95 per cent would visit more often – and pay more to attend – if it was refurbished.

Katherine Guenioui, whose online petition to save it currently has 1,767 signatures, said: “There’s also a really strong call for a more diverse programme, in addition to the latest releases.”

But she conceded the campaigners had two hurdles to overcome – to show the cinema could make money in the future, and to attract money now to give it the opportunity of having a future.

Katherine said of the survey: “It’s exciting stuff, but unfortunately it changes nothing. The district and town councils are not in the market to buy a cinema. So if you happen to get chatting to someone who could help our cause, please email [email protected]

“We need to prove this is a viable business in order to attract the necessary investment or funding to save it.”

The clock has been ticking on the independent Palace Cinema in Normandy Street since August when Raj Jeyasingam – who has run it as a “paid hobby” for 26 years – put it up for sale at a price of £850,000.

He said at the time: “I will carry on until September 2022 unless the loss becomes uncontrollable or the projectors let me down.”

Nick O’Brien, posting on Facebook, suggested it was time to attract local celebrities to the cause.

He said: “Surely our local resident Alan Titchmarsh might know a wealthy individual or two who would love to run their own cinema. Perhaps someone who knows him should suggest this?”

Derek Cosgrove warned “large, old, poorly maintained buildings are a money pit”, but Sarah McPhee said: “If it’s a case of the facilities need improving and Alton wants to hold on to what could be a valuable asset to the town and community, would it not make sense that the community pitches in to save it?”

Mandy Cox said people could buy shares and it could be run as “some kind of community project”.

She added: “I am pretty sure that we would all contribute. It could be a town attraction along with the Watercress Line.”