HERITAGE Lottery chiefs have left people in Tenbury holding their breath and wondering if the final credits are going to roll on a dream to refurbish their cinema.

The HLF has met and made a decision about an £800,000 bid that will determine the future of the historic Regal cinema.

But the town will be kept in suspense until next week.

It has been indicated that the outcome of the bid should be released on Monday. But any further delay will push things back into the New Year.

Dawn Worgan, Tenbury's town clerk said she did not know the reason for the delay but believed that there is a ratification process that has to rubber stamp the decision.

"Despite what we had previously been told the decisions are not published immediately and so we will not find out until next week at the earliest," she said.

"Let us hope the news when it eventually comes will be good."

The Regal Cinema which was built in the 1930s and is a rare remaining example of small town cinemas built between the first and second world wars.

It is owned by Tenbur y Town Council and if the bid is successful it will clear the way for a major refurbishment including replacement of the roof.

But a serious warning has been made of the potential consequences if The HLF has not approved the grant.

"This is very important because the Town Council simply does not have this sort of money," said Elizabeth Weston, Mayor of Tenbury.