A NEW public fundraiser to save a popular mobile cinema used by Cumbrae residents has been launched.

Regional Screen Scotland (RSS), the operator and manager of the Scotland's Screen Machine mobile cinema service, have launched the new campaign.

The fundraiser is part of the effort to raise the £1.7 million needed to build a custom-made mobile cinema suitable for all roads, slipways, and weather across Scotland.

They are urgently calling on people to help raise £100,000 to go towards securing the service into the 2040s or face losing it altogether.

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Simon Drysdale, interim chief executive officer of Regional Screen Scotland, said: “The popularity of the Screen Machine mobile cinema service is beyond doubt.

"Over the summer we’ve seen excellent numbers of customers come along to enjoy the big screen experience in their local communities.

"But what is very much in doubt is the future of the service.

"The launch of a campaign to raise £100k from customers and supporters is intended to push potential major funders, including the Scottish Government, into action before this precious resource is lost.”

READ MORE: Oscar winning Judi Dench writes to First Minister to save Screen Machine

The Screen Machine was a hugely popular attraction on its visits to Cumbrae until last year, when the island was taken off its schedule due to access issues around the use of a new vehicle.

The 80-seat, air-conditioned, digital mobile cinema service has been bringing the latest films to over 40 communities of the Highlands and islands of Scotland since 1998.

The service has specially designed rollers fitted to the Cinémobile, which will enable it to visit more communities including four more islands, and one mainland location.

A temporary mobile cinema is currently in use and has paid a visit to Cumbrae in July - and the lease of the temporary 'Cinemobile' vehicle runs out in April, leaving major doubts about the service's future after that date.

As part of the campaign, Scottish actor Alan Cumming and Tide Lines, one of Scotland’s leading folk rock groups, have joined forces with RSS and advertising agency, Collective London, to create a short film to publicise the campaign

And Mr Cumming is not the only actor to give his backing to the cinema as we previously reported that Dame Judi had written to former First Minister Humza Yousaf to highlight the concerns of children on Barra over the potential loss of the mobile cinema.

Her intervention was hailed by Millport resident and North Coast councillor Todd Ferguson, who said he hoped it could prove to be a major stepping stone for the Screen Machine to return to the island in future.

For more information or to donate towards the fundraiser visit their Crowdfunder page at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-our-screen-machine.