Film buff Alix Coughlin is hoping to bring movie magic to Bradley.

With the help of a £5,000 Big Lottery grant, the mother-of-two is launching a film club in the village.

It will be based at the local primary school – where her two children are pupils – and will probably meet monthly.

“It will bring another service to the village and make the school the centre of community life,” said Alix. “It will be for all generations.”

She came up with the idea after hearing about Filmclub – an education charity which encourages youngsters to learn through film.

She took her idea to the school’s PTA and, together, they submitted an application for Lottery funding to help purchase a projector, screen and speakers.

“Of course, there is the lovely Plaza Cinema in Skipton, but since bus services were reduced, it is not easy to get to. We need something in Bradley.”

And a survey of villagers and pupils brought comments such as “epic idea”, “good way to socialise” and “parents wouldn’t have to drive into Skipton”.

Alix was also spurred into action after doing a dissertation for her Masters degree on the role of girls in films and realised that there were few positive role models, especially for girls, on film.

“The research also threw up the issue of the range of films that the children had seen which proved to be quite narrow, therefore the film club will aim to show a number of films from other cultures and languages and less well known films.”

But the club’s first offering will be the much-loved family film, Matilda, based on the Roald Dahl book, which will be shown at the school on Thursday, January 23 at 6pm.

Admission will be free and snacks will be available to buy.

Future films could be tied in with local and national events, such as the Tour de France, which is due to pass through the area in July.

To join the club, go along to the first screening or visit bradleyvillage.org/filmclub.