A CARMARTHENSHIRE cinema will be closed three days a week to help reduce costs after delays in the release of blockbuster films.

Vue cinemas, including Carmarthen and Swansea, will reduce its opening hours to four days a week, closing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The delay to the next James Bond film, No Time To Die, until April next year, has been described as a “body blow” by Vue Cinema’s chief executive.

Further high-profile titles that have seen release dates delayed include Marvel film Black Widow and Jurassic World: Dominion.

Tim Richards, founder and CEO of the multiplex chain, said: “Our problem right now is we have no movies. This was a big blow for us.

“We’re likely going to make it through; I’m concerned about the independents and the small regional operators right now that are going to really struggle, and when they close they may not reopen.”

Odeon has also confirmed that around 30 of its 120 cinema sites will shut from Monday to Thursday after audience figures have been slow to recover following the pandemic.

Swansea will be open from Thursday to Sunday and Llanelli is closed until further notice.