CINEMA bosses have promised film fans "no more standing waiting in the rain" with the help of a new computerised ticket system.

The move aims to put an end to a sight familiar to visitors to Darlington for many years as they travel along Northgate to the town centre, past lengthy queues of cinemagoers outside the ABC.

In the past, the queues have been the result of an old-fashioned ticket roll, with customers only being allowed through the doors at a specified time for their particular showing.

But from tomorrow, film fans will be allowed into the foyer of the cinema, which is owned by the Odeon group, before the screening and buy a ticket or call an automated telephone line.

Manager Nikki Waller promised the move would not affect prices.

She said: "We are not going to make any increases on our ticket prices at all."

Miss Waller added the change would arrive just in time for such releases as the new Harry Potter film, which is likely to attract huge queues.

The telephone line for bookings is 0870 5050007.