The manager of Cinemac has said he is "over the moon" to welcome back Macclesfield's cinema-goers in May.

Jordan Wilson praised the support of the community in helping Cinemac get through the last year.

He told Macclesfield Nub News: "We wouldn't be here without the local businesses we work with like Arighi Bianci and Red Willow. Their support through this has been amazing.

"We also had people buying gift cards over Christmas and customers coming in when we were open for those two weeks, they're all just amazing."

Jordan added: "It's what makes Macclesfield so special, I think. The people that live here support the businesses that go on. We're quite lucky to have a town with such thriving restaurants and bars without too many chains."

Jordan and the volunteers who run Cinemac have used the lengthy closure to refurbish the auditorium during the first lockdown as well as conducting several "deep cleans" since then.

Under the plans announced by the government yesterday (22 February), the reopening of cinema's will fall under 'stage 3' from 17 May, which will also include indoor meetings under the 'rule of six'.

"We mainly deal with families and it will be great to be able to see people meeting up with other members of their family that are local to the area and all coming together to watch a film with each other," Jordan said.

Boris Johnson also announced he hopes to lift most, if not all, Coronavirus rules by 21 June.

Asked if he expects to be able to lift social distancing rules in the summer, Jordan said: "I think it's going to be quite difficult with indoor venues like ours. I can see social distancing being at the forefront of people's minds even if they've been vaccinated or tested negative.

"I think people will still want the peace of mind of knowing they are two metres away from another person. I think it will take a good six to eight months to get that confidence back."

You can keep up to date with the latest from Cinemac on their Facebook page.