Cinema manager throws his toys out of the pram over baby film matinees

THE boss of an independent cinema has had to cancel their matinees for parents and infants after complaints from staff and other customers.

The manager of the art deco Rex cinema in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, said ‘difficult’ mothers had left dirty nappies lying on the floor while other audience members had ‘ whinged’ about infants being allowed into screenings.

In a lengthy post on the cinema’s website, James Hannaway said staff had suffered ‘misery’ as they collected ‘still-warm nappies and put up with difficult first-time mothers with armoured tanks (prams) and a not always helpful attitude as they spread everything from the tank everywhere’.

He added: ‘Some without babies would rarely miss the chance to complain. And many non-parents threatened us with the authorities if little faces turn up in prams for a 15 certificate. Clearly babies from 0 to six months are under 15. Thank you for such moral vigilance.’

Yesterday local grandmother Carla Ball, 61, said: ‘It’s a great shame because it is a lovely location for parents to take their young ones and meet other parents.

‘Obviously young children should not see films that are not appropriate for their age but that can’t apply to babies.’

Up to the age of three months, babies’ eyes are unable to focus on anything more than a few inches from their face.

The British Board of Film Classification says parents can take ‘very young infants’ into U, PG or 12A films, and that movies with 15 or 18 ratings are ‘a matter for individual licensing authorities’.