A NEW film society has been formed in Alvechurch to show movie masterpieces on the big screen.

The society will screen films on the first Friday of each month until March next year.

David Martin, rector of Alvechurch, said: "The aim of the society is to show films that are classics from the past, or recently released films that have not yet appeared on DVD, or which never reached the commercial cinema.

"Members are able to nominate and vote for the films they want to see and the six most popular films chosen by the membership will form the 2007-2008 season. There is nothing like watching films on the big screen for which they were made, especially if you can then linger over a drink and talk about it with others who have watched it."

The first to be screened is The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine, which will be shown in The Ark, adjoining St Laurence Parish Church, on Friday, October 5 at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £5 or £25 for a season's membership.