A Brighton cinema is to introduce screenings for babes in arms to give mums and dads the chance of a night at the movies.

Entitled The Big Scream, the series is designed for parents with babies under one year old who don't normally get to go to the pictures without calling in a sitter.

Blake Smith, general manager of the Duke of York's Cinema at Preston Circus, said: "The idea had already been trialled at our Clapham cinema in London and was very successful and we had a lot of requests from parents for it here.

"It means people can bring their baby without having to worry about disturbing other customers."

The century-old Duke of York's specialises in current, classic, independent and foreign language releases.

However, parents will be limited in their viewing to films that are suitable for their offspring.

Mr Smith said: "We have to stick to the classifications, which rule out anything over a 12A - there are no exceptions for babies."

He said baby-change facilities were being installed and staff had no qualms about mothers breast-feeding beneath the big screen.

They would also try to accommodate requests for warming bottles.

The move has had the thumbs-up from film fan mums.

Jeanette Lynn, 21, on maternity leave with two-and-a-half-month-old Sam, is looking forward to enjoying a bit of culture.

She said: "I don't know why it has taken so long. I took Sam to see Terminator 3 but had to leave halfway through when he started crying. Now I won't have to worry about upsetting other people."

The first film in the series is Spirited Away, an English-language version of a surreal Japanese fable.

Others will include Whale Rider, from New Zealand, the story of a young Maori girl's quest for recognition, and the Winged Migration.

Mr Smith said bookings were already coming in.

The Big Scream begins next week and will run every other Wednesday.

For more details, call the Duke of York's box office on 01273 602503.