CINEMA entrepreneur James Hannaway today denied that a new deadline had been set for him to hand over the �1 million purchase price for the old Odeon in London Road, St Albans. Mr Hannaway, who restored the fortunes of the Rex Cinema in Berkhamsted, said:

CINEMA entrepreneur James Hannaway today denied that a new deadline had been set for him to hand over the �1 million purchase price for the old Odeon in London Road, St Albans.

Mr Hannaway, who restored the fortunes of the Rex Cinema in Berkhamsted, said: "We have missed the two deadlines to exchange and complete. The 'For Sale' sign is now showing again. But that is all it is doing. Until another buyer comes on in the days we have left, we still have the once in a lifetime chance to get the site for a cinema once and for all."

He stressed that a report of a new deadline published on another local paper website was incorrect.