AMBITIOUS plans to open up Teignmouth’s Riviera Cinema for the first time in more than 20 years have been given the thumbs up.

Teignmouth Mars Hill Church now have the approval of Teignbridge Council planners to open the mothballed auditorium for Sunday worship and prayer.

Councillors welcomed the move to breathe new life into the iconic seafront building’s former cinema.The church also proposes to open up the floor of the Grade II listed building to provide a wealth of community facilities including use as a theatre, music events, recording studio, art exhibition, conference and office space.Their plans also include bringing back the cinema. Read the full story in this week's MDA, on sale Friday.