MOVIES are returning to Hitchin as part of the town s festival almost 30 years after the last cinema closed in the town. The annual festival has its own film programme, opening with Electric Edwardians featuring lost footage from the studios of Mitchell a

MOVIES are returning to Hitchin as part of the town's festival almost 30 years after the last cinema closed in the town.

The annual festival has its own film programme, opening with Electric Edwardians featuring lost footage from the studios of Mitchell and Kenyon. Other programme highlights are a look at historic Hitchin and a series of short award-winning films such as Family Portrait, a Sundance Film Festival winner in 2005, and The Little Terrorist, which earned two Oscar nominations.

"It is the first time we have had film," said Festival secretary and Hitchin town centre manager Keith Hoskins, who is running the box office from his Churchyard office.

"I am really excited about it. As we don't have anywhere to show films in Hitchin, we have got Theatre Truck to come in and they will park their mobile cinema in the Market Square."

Hitchin Festival, now in its 15th year, features a number of old favourites including free lunchtime concerts in St Mary's Church.

The prestigious London Contemporary Dance company's EDge group is arriving after engagements in Portugal and Denmark. Another star attraction is Finery and Filth, with minstrel Dante Ferrara treating guests to the kind of entertainment Elizabethans would have enjoyed in the 1580s, from basic to bawdy.

The real spy who inspired James Bond is the subject of a charity talk to be held at the British Schools Museum in Queen Street at 7.45pm on Friday, July 14.

The town's Thespian group will be staging the most daring show in its 104-year history. Roll up for the fun and bare-faced cheek of The Full Monty. Will they or won't they? How much will we really see? There's only one way to find out.

The festival box office is at the Hitchin Town Centre Initiative, 27 Churchyard, Hitchin, SG5 1HP, on 01462 453335.

Bookings can be made on 01462 453336. You can also look on the website www.e-hitchin.co.uk