BLACKWOOD was rocking to the sound of Northern Soul tonight as the town's new cinema staged a screening of a film which has been 17 years in the making.

The Maxime Cinema in Blackwood was one of a handful in Wales to screen Northern Soul.

The independent cinema has been open for just 10 weeks, but the film completely sold out, with 220 people in attendance for the 7.30pm showing.

The film tells the story of the DJ-led movement that developed in industrial North West England in the 1960s and 1970s in venues like the Wigan Casino - sparked by the discovery of black American soul music.

Featuring Steve Coogan, John Thomson, Ricky Tomlinson and Lisa Stansfield, the film took director Elaine Constantine 17 years to make. A number of cinemas are showing screenings after being approached by fans, as the film is not on general release.

Gwyneira Griffith-Jones, 48, is an usher at the Maxime and she said it was her husband, Paul, who pushed for the film to be shown.

She said: “I like heavy metal, but my husband is Northern Soul man and he asked for the film so I put a request in. It’s great to have it a day before anyone else in Wales.

“No film has sold out like this. Even though the film’s out on DVD on Monday, we’ve sold quite a few seats for Saturday and Sunday, too.

“We were all so excited about it and it’s great that Preacher’s Bar are having a Northern Soul night after the film. I was originally off for the day but, with the buzz around it, I’d rather work than watch it to be honest.”

Tickets for the film were just £2.50 and Andrew Millar, who is the general manager of the five-screen cinema, said the attendance for Northern Soul could lead to more limited runs of films.

He said: “We opened during the summer holidays and every day was a big day. But this is our first big film, with an older audience too. Many of them probably used to go up to Wigan for the scene.

“We’re very surprised by the film’s popularity and this would not happen in a multiplex – who often just want blockbusters. It was a bit of a gamble for us, but the pre-bookings alone proved it was the right move.”

Alun Kent, owner of Heart of the Valleys Scooter Parts, said ahead of the screening: "We've been waiting years for this film. I've damaged myself over the years for the love of Northern Soul - dancing all night all over the country.

"It's [the Northern Soul movement] been underground since the 60s - now it could become a bit more mainstream."

Members of the Blackwood-based Enjoy Yourself Scooter Club, Taff Vale, Cwmbran Allstars and the Valley Dragons in Newbridge were among those in attendance for the premiere.

Henry Booth, aged 52, and member of the Enjoy Yourself club, said: "It's a social thing. We try to do things at least once a month.

"I've been a mod since 1977, I can't wait for the film."

Wayne Edward, aged 47, from Blackwood, said: "As long as you've got your own scooter, it doesn't matter. Mods, skinheads, it's all the same.

"It's very much a social thing, travelling around on your scooter - there's nothing like it. We were brought up with it."

For more information on the Maxime Cinema, visit http://www.blackwoodcinema.co.uk.