MOVIE magic will return to Kidderminster next Friday when Nicole Kidman graces the town's first silver screen in more than two decades.

The Warehouse Cinema in Green Street will open its doors with political thriller, The Interpreter on Friday, April 15.

It is the first cinema to open in the town since 1982 and comes after years of wrangling by council chiefs to provide a facility for district residents.

Kidderminster solicitor, Simon Swaffield, has ploughed his own money into converting the former shoe warehouse into a four-screen complex.

Ahead of the grand opening he said: "We are over the moon. It looks great and we are looking forward to opening the doors on the 15th. It is even better than what we expected."

He went on: "I think everything is over-running, money, time, patience, but it is worthwhile, I think."

The road to opening has certainly not been without its problems. After Mr Swaffield announced his planned cinema in October it was attacked as being too small by a leading member of Wyre Forest District Council.

Councillor James Dudley, responsible for economic regeneration, said the council would press ahead with its long-standing plans to attract a multiplex-style development.

Previous council-driven efforts to attract a cinema have foundered. A plan was on the table for the Piano Building at the Weavers Wharf development in Kidderminster but the building was listed at the eleventh hour.

Then neighbouring superstore B&Q said it would tighten its parking procedures so cinema-goers would not take up its spaces. Mr Swaffield insisted nearby car parks would be able to cope.

In February, thieves broke into the building and stole about £2,000 worth of expensive audio equipment. This put the opening date back even further. "I don't know what is wrong with this place," an angry Mr Swaffield told the Shuttle/Times and News at the time.

Speaking this week, he said he was now looking forward to being in charge of his own cinema. He explained: "It is still a fairly big mental leap, to be honest, because it has been so long in the hatching but I am very much looking forward to it."