Youngsters in Oswestry desperately want a cinema to be built in the town, councillors have been told. The call follows meetings with the town mayor.

More than 160 youngsters took part in meetings with Gareth Jones, town mayor, during Local Democracy Week, Oswestry Town Council heard.

Youngsters from several primary and secondary schools visited the town council’s headquarters at the Guildhall in Oswestry during Local Democracy Week, from October 13 to 17, to find out more about how the council was run.

Councillor Jones told the town council’s finance and general purposes committee yesterday that calls for a cinema were repeated over and over by the youngsters.

He said: “It was a fantastic week and interesting to hear the children’s views.

“They were asked what they want for Oswestry and everyone wanted a cinema.

“Every child said they wanted a cinema in Oswestry. They said they currently go to Shrewsbury or Wrexham, but they wanted to see one in Oswestry.

“And they said they wanted to have a restaurant along with the cinema, so they could hold birthday parties then go to the cinema.”

A report from council clerk David Preston on Local Democracy Week said  it had been useful in finding out what youngsters liked about the town. It said: “The event was extremely useful in terms of engagement with a harder to reach group.”

l A cinema is included in a planning application, supported by the town council, for the redevelopment of the Smithfield livestock market site. A rival plan by Oswestry timber firm Richard Burbidge also includes a cinema.