A CITY cinema opened its doors to screen the Queen’s funeral.

Vue cinema in Worcester’s Friar Street opened today (Monday) for a special screening of the Queen’s funeral.

The cinema cancelled screenings of all films and did not sell food or drink ahead of the service instead providing free water and tea and coffee.

Thom Little, 29, from Dines Green, said he wanted to pay his respects to the Queen in his own way and was watching the funeral in the cinema because he did not own a television.

“Today is a special day really, it’s a big historic event and I really wanted to see the funeral and see what the tributes were going to be.

“It’s going to be mixed emotions I think, it’s really sad, obviously, but so many people are going to be turning up to pay their respects so it will also be a nice celebration of the Queen’s life.

“I come to the cinema a lot anyway so it’s a home away from home I suppose.”

The usually bustling Worcester High Street was all but deserted on Monday with only a handful of shops and restaurants remaining open.

The majority of businesses in the city centre stayed shut as a mark of respect.

Danny Terry, 22, from St John’s said he would be watching the service in the cinema “out of curiosity” with his friends.

“I don’t know what to expect,” he said. “It might be a bit strange watching it on a big screen like that at first. I think it’s going to be fairly full.

“We were going to be out and about anyway seeing what was going on. This is a bit of a different way of doing things and it will be a different way to watch the service.”

A crowd of around 200 people gathered in Cathedral Square nearby to watch the Queen’s funeral on a large screen.

Gavin Speed, who was planning to watch the service in the cinema alongside his wife Sandra and three children, said: “I thought it was important to make an effort and watch the funeral.

“It’s an historic day really and when I saw that the cinema was opening to show the funeral, I thought it would be a bit of a different way to watch it, to be around other people and to share that moment.”