A Chelmsford mother whose 12-year-old son was refused entry to the town's Odeon Cinema vows she and her family will never go there again.

Mrs Christine Sewell, of Shire Close, Chelmsford, said her son, a regular visitor to the cinema, had a non-pupil day off school and decided to go to see Unbreakable, a 12 certificate film, with a friend.

Mrs Sewell said: 'They were both asked their age by a male assistant. The friend gave his, but my son's mind went blank for a moment. He then stated that he was 12 years old. In fact, he will be 13 in March."

The boy was refused admission and rang his mother who arrived at the cinema in about 10 minutes.

Mrs Sewell said: "I started to speak to the lady manager in order to confirm my son's age and date of birth. The male assistant called over and said 'I've already refused him'.''

"I was then told by the manager that she would need to see a birth certificate or passport. These are documents I would not normally have on me, so she would not allow my son to go in."

Mrs Sewell said people in the queue mentioned a proof of age card, but the manager said they did not have any and wouldn't have them for about a week.

However, her son's friend, then found one in the reception area.

Mrs Sewell later telephoned the cinema to ask for the Odeon head office address and said she was told it was not known.

Her husband also telephoned the cinema when he returned from work and was told that a proof of age was always needed.

Mrs Sewell stressed that she fully appreciated that regulations were to be obeyed, but felt the way the situation was dealt with was 'quite unsatisfactory'.

She felt that if documentary proof of age was necessary then it should be stated in advertisements.

An Odeon Cinema spokesman said: "It is illegal for the Odeon to allow people into a cinema to watch a film if they are under the required age set by the British Board of Film Classification

"The Odeon's licence to show films could be revoked if it did.

"Staff at all our cinemas are required by law to ask anyone who appears under the legal age to watch a film to produce either their passport, driving licence or proof of age card.

"The staff at the Odeon, Chelmsford, had no other option in this instance but to not allow this person into the cinema to watch the film. A proof of age card application form was given to the person to fill in to avoid this happening again.

"All the staff at the Odeon, Chelmsford have been reminded of the address to send customer complaint letters to."

By Fred Hammerton

Reporter's e-mail: fred.hammerton@essex-chronicle.co.uk

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