One of the largest cinema screens in the region has closed to be converted into three smaller screens.

The final curtain came down on Screen Two at the Odeon in West Street, Brighton, last night.

It will be refurbished to transform the centre from a six-screen to an eight-screen cinema.

Screen Two opened in 1973 and the first movie shown was The Poseidon Adventure. Its final showing last night was of Cats And Dogs.

Cinema manager Greg Wilson said: "The screen will be closed for three months so we can offer customers more choice.

"With the development of multiplexes, people expect a wider variety of choice.

"The refurbishment will be complete in time for the first instalment of Lord Of The Rings in December.

"We apologise to all our customers for this inconvenience but the rest of the screens will be functioning as usual."

Mr Wilson said the redevelopment would see a net loss of 20 or 30 seats but allow the cinema to offer a wider range of films.

The plans follow the firm's announcement in 1999 that the Odeon would undergo a £10 million redevelopment, creating a total of ten screens.

The proposals also included new bars and a Hard Rock Cafe at the West Street complex.

At the time, an Odeon spokesman said there was a lot of unused space in the building and the cinema would end up looking significantly different both inside and out.