Film buffs say they are missing out on screening blockbusters because of town hall restrictions.

Supporters of the independent Lewes Cinema say their town council is limiting the number of days it can use the All Saints Arts Centre in Friars Walk to show films.

They believe if the restrictions continue it will lead to blockbusters like Narnia or the forthcoming Da Vinci Code movie being chopped from billings.

The move has left disgruntled film fans wondering if the cinema - one of the few independents in the country - has a secure future.

One comment was on an online petition. It said: "My family and I make good use of this brilliant local amenity; it is good for Lewes, good for the environment (we walk to it) and it is run by locals, not some faceless corporation."

Lewes Town Council loans the arts centre to the cinema for showings but supporters say they can rarely secure dates in advance and fear the current restrictions could be the thin end of the wedge.

A spokesman for the supporters said: "We believe there is a strong possibility of a reduction in the number of weekend days Lewes Cinema will be allowed to regularly operate at the All Saints Arts Centre."

"One of the possibilities is that we may lose Fridays and this would have a direct impact.

"To show many of the bigger films we are often obliged to screen them for at least three days and so we do need the Friday, Saturday and Sunday combination.

"A good example of this is the hugely popular January screenings of Narnia which would not have happened if we had had fewer days available to us.

"The same also applies to the forthcoming March Of The Penguins which, again, we are obliged to screen for three days.

"The restrictions do not mean Lewes Cinema will stop screening, however it does mean that the number and choice of films available will be seriously limited."

Two petitions have been started to ask the council to provide more permanent dates. The version at www.petitionthem.com only has 46 signatures but a hard copy has attracted more than 1,500.

Lewes Town Council said it was unable to comment but a member of staff at the arts centre said: "My feelings are it will all be worked out in the near future."