CINEMAS across England are to benefit from a new national lottery scheme to improve facilities for film fans with impaired hearing and sight.

The UK Film Council announced today that 78 cinemas will be equipped with captioning and audio-description equipment.

Huddersfield's UCI cinema is on the list of those to receive grants.

A web-based film information service, www.yourlocalcin ema.com, has also been developed to tell people with sensory impairments about films being shown in England.

The move will enable thousands more people with hearing or sight loss to enjoy films at the cinema.

At present, just 22 cinemas in England have such equipment.

In 2003, members of the Film Distributors' Association released 84 films with digital subtitles and audio description, bringing the total range of `accessible' titles available to UK exhibitors and audiences to well over 100.

Peter Buckingham, head of the UK Film Council's Distribution and Exhibition Fund, said: "We want to help all sectors of the community to enjoy film, which is such an important part of our culture.

"In the past, too many people with impaired sight and hearing have been cut off from the world of cinema.

"This new scheme will mean they will able to enjoy films at the cinema - as well as the discussions afterwards - along with their friends and family," he added.