Showcase Cinemas reinstates screenings of Blue Story with 'increased security'

Showcase Cinemas said it had reinstated screenings of Blue Story, but withextra security.

The cinema chain pulled the film after a mass brawl at a screening in Birmingham led to several arrests.

Gangs of young people, some armed with machetes, clashed at the Star City cinema on Saturday evening.

There was a mass brawl at a screening of Blue Story in Star City, Birmingham Credit: @_rachaelallison/Twitter

Cinema chain Vue, which runs Star City, was the first to pull the film from its 91 UK venues.

The move came as Blue Story's writer and director, Andrew Onwubolu, condemned the incident and said that his film was about "love not violence".

Andrew Onwubolu, known as Rapman, the director of Blue Story Credit: PA Images

In a statement, a spokesman for Showcase Cinemas said: "We took the decision to temporarily suspend screenings of Blue Story to enable us to assess the situation.

"We want to reassure our guests that their safety - and that of our staf members - is our absolute priority."