TEENAGERS hoping to see a popular new film were turned away from a Colchester cinema amid concerns over a new social media trend.

Across the country hoards of teenagers have been watching the new film Minions: The Rise of Gru dressed in suits and recording themselves on social media.

But the behaviour that accompanies the trend - cheering, shouting and mimicking the Minion characters - has caused issues for other filmgoers.

In Colchester a group of teenagers, who had just finished their GCSEs, were turned away from the Odeon in Head Street over the weekend.

A concerned parent took to social media to criticise the chain.

The Tweet said: “Very disappointed that today at your Colchester cinema you turned away my son and a few of his friends from going into the cinema to watch Minions BECAUSE THEY WERE WEARING SUITS!!

“They are a great bunch of kids who had just finished their GCSES and thought it would be a fun thing to do!

“They had all caught the bus there and actually ended up going to another [cinema] in the town where people were actually thanking them for making it a fun experience for their little ones to see!!

“Shame on you for turning them away, they had done nothing wrong but worn a suit!!”

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It is not clear where the trend originated but the #gentleminions videos show suited groups attending the screenings and copying the main character, supervillain Felonius Gru, and his signature hand gesture.

In the videos, which have racked up millions of views on the app, groups can be seen celebrating “the five-year wait is over”.

The Odeon confirmed it had taken action against some filmgoers.

In a statement it said: “Due to a small number of incidents in our cinemas over the weekend we have had to restrict access in some circumstances.”

Elsewhere in the country one independent cinema in Wadebridge, Cornwall, has banned any unaccompanied children who are wearing suits from watching the film.

In a statement posted on Twitter, The Regal wrote: “We are currently not admitting unaccompanied children wearing suits for ‘Minions: The Rise Of Gru’.

“This is due to the issues we have encountered over the last two days and it’s associated behaviour.”