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A black-tie charity cinema screening has raised around £700 for the Macmillan and Cancer Research charities.

Organised by Paul and Jennifer Taylor, who run The Rock bed and breakfast in Blackwood, the event was held at the town’s Maxime Cinema on June 25.

Around 70 guests, many of them regulars at The Rock, attended the screening of the 1988 Oscar-winning Italian language film Cinema Paradiso before heading to the pub for a post-event meal.

The coming-of-age film depicts a young boy’s friendship with an aging cinema projectionist.

Jennifer explained: “We did it for my birthday around four years ago and it was such a lovely night.

“People have been in very difficult circumstances recently, so we thought why don’t we do it again. It gives people the opportunity to dress up and enjoy a wonderful experience.

“We are still feeling the after-effects of the pandemic, so we thought what can we do to lift the mood? We have done this before so we thought we would do it again. It’s a fabulous film and the music is outstanding.”

Paul added: “We just wanted to lift people’s spirits – and it’s a film that lifts spirits.”