Wayne John, projectionist: Traditional way

When he was growing up in Llanelli there were cinemas aplenty, now there are only multiplexes.

You would expect an old cinema like La Charette to be showing classic films like Casablanca and Brief Encounter.

Yet the films on show are bang up-to-date.

Indeed for Mary Lewis - a regular over the decades - her favourite movie was screened only last year.

"The latest film with Michael Caine - The Cider House Rules - was marvellous.

Surround sound

"We're not out in the back of beyond, we're up-to-date," she said.

Wayne John, who runs the cinema, said the lottery grant has been a lifeline and would enable La Charette to continue as the only independent cinema in the area.

"It'll enable us to put in new equipment like a new video projection system and Dolby surround sound," he said.

But traditional cinemagoers need not worry as Mr John intends to keep the feel of a traditional cinema in his programming - every screening will start with a short film before the main feature is shown.