A WOMAN who inherited 2,000 videotapes has donated them to a shop owner who drove all the way from Liverpool on an ongoing mission to rescue any rare films.

Marcy Hudson, 56, got in touch with film fan Andy Johnson from Merseyside and after a journey of nearly 300 miles he arrived in his van to pick up the treasures in Mile Oak yesterday.

Mr Johnson opened VideOdyssey six months ago and he rents tapes and has a cinema behind a sliding wall of videotapes.

There is a members-only room where customers can play retro arcade games and swap tapes.

Ms Hudson, who lives in Peacehaven, said: “I got in touch with Andy after my friend passed away in August.

“He lived in Mile Oak and I estimate there are 2,000 videotapes but I think there could be more.

“He must have got them from a Blockbusters video rental store that was closed or from markets.

The Argus:

“There are Laurel and Hardy films and so many others. There are movies which you may have never seen before.

“I didn’t want to just throw them out because they would end up in the landfill and that would be a waste.

“I’m very pleased they have found a new home.”

Fans thought videotapes would become history after Blockbusters closed all of its stores in 2013.

However, Mr Johnson, 39, is determined to keep them alive. He said: “VHS tapes bring back nostalgic memories to many.

“A lot customers say they remember the days when they would go out with their family to rent videos.

“When I heard Marcy has 2,000 videos I was so excited.

“There are so many great films out there that are only available on tape.

The Argus:

“I am trying to get more old movies, horror films, any rarities and even movies that were not commercially available at the time.

“I have customers as young as 20. Renting videos is a bonding experience and it’s special. People do collect them because they are becoming more scarce. I have about 5,000 videotapes in my shop.

“People feel guilty about throwing tapes in the tip. Some people see tapes as a ‘lost art’ and they would want to get the original movie.”

Mr Johnson said videos have become valuable collectors’ items and movies such as The Evil Dead and Jaws can be sold for hundreds of pounds.

He said: “I have a lot of memories about video renting.

“I used to work in a video hire shop when I was a teenager.

“I don’t sell videos until they have been in the shop for six months. I also have plans to open a pop-up shop in Brighton.”