Judi Dench joins campaign to save cinema in Scotland

Veteran actress Dame Judi Dench has joined a campaign to save a small cinema in Scotland.

By becoming a patron of the Highland Theatre in Oban, the actress has followed in the footsteps of other celebrity supporters like Tilda Swinton, Dougray Scott, Robbie Coltrane and Rowan Atkinson.

The venue closed last summer after the owners went into liquidation, reports the Daily Star.

Officials at Santander bank, which has now taken over ownership, have agreed to postpone an auction to sell off the cinema so local residents can try and raise enough cash to buy it.

Scottish neighbours are hoping to raise 20,000 pounds to place a deposit down on the theatre, and hope to eventually collect the full 195,000 pounds asking price.

And Dench is now leading the campaign with her new patron status.

Town centre manager Campbell Cameron is hoping to reopen the Highland Theatre as the Phoenix Cinema.

"We are delighted that Dame Judi Dench has given us her support. She has an affinity with the area because she comes up here on her holidays," Cameron said.