THE total raised towards the cinema dream for St Albans continues to creep up by the day. Entrepreneur James Hannaway now has �840,000 towards the purchase of the Odeon site in London Road – just short of the �1million needed. He said: Cheques and onlin

THE total raised towards the cinema dream for St Albans continues to creep up by the day.

Entrepreneur James Hannaway now has �840,000 towards the purchase of the Odeon site in London Road - just short of the �1million needed.

He said: "Cheques and online donations, loans and investments continue to pour in daily. Even as I write the figure is growing towards its �1 million goal."

As reported by the Herts Advertiser this week, the 'sale agreed' sign has been removed from the building after the February 15 purchase deadline lapsed.

But Mr Hannaway, who restored the fortunes of The Rex in Berkhamsted, said: "I am pleased to tell you the present owner has not given up on our proposal and continues to extend to us the chance to make the dream come true.

"However, it is still a commercial venture for his company with every right to put it back on the market, complete with planning permission for fourteen luxury flats serviced by underground car parking."

He urged people to continue pledging their support and said: "If you have pledged support but we lost you somewhere in the labyrinth of such a complex database, and are still thinking, now is the time."

To donate to the project deposit money in the account with the following details: account name: The Alpha, account number: 45364675 and sort code: 09-01-27.