HALF of all pirated films in the UK come from Cineworld in Stevenage. The shocking revelation came to light when the cinema was dropped from a national newspaper s list of those offering film previews. Al Alvarez, Cineworld s vice president, wrote in an e

HALF of all pirated films in the UK come from Cineworld in Stevenage.

The shocking revelation came to light when the cinema was dropped from a national newspaper's list of those offering film previews.

Al Alvarez, Cineworld's vice president, wrote in an email to a concerned customer: "Stevenage was pulled out of these [preview screening] when the film distributors refused to give us advanced prints due to film piracy concerns.

He said: "Fifty per cent of all pirated films in the UK come from Cineworld Stevenage, hence our active search procedures at that site."

A Cineworld spokesman said: "In order for Cineworld to continue to show new release films and early preview screenings at Cineworld Stevenage, an undertaking has had to be made

to the film distributors, that every effort will be taken to combat film and video piracy in the UK."

A spokesman for FACT (The Federation Against Copyright Theft) refused to comment.