THE Oxford Mail’s fifth Senior Citizens Film Festival, co-sponsored by the Phoenix cinema in Walton Street, Oxford, got off to a flying start yesterday with its screening of The King’s Speech.

Pensioners from around the county flocked to the cinema to see the award-winning blockbuster, giving the three-day festival a huge thumbs-up.

Seventy-year-old Jilly McNeil, from Headington, Oxford, said: “I think it’s a super idea and I would thoroughly recommend it to everyone.”

Roy and Joyce Douglas, 85 and 81 respectively, from Northmoor, agreed. Mr Douglas said: “I think it’s wonderful. If we lived nearer, we’d come to every one.”

The festival continues today with its screening of Jane Eyre, which was released to critical and commercial acclaim earlier this year.

All films start at 11am, and your ticket, which includes free hot drinks and mince pies, is simply a copy of that day’s Oxford Mail. Tomorrow’s screening is White Christmas starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.

For further information, call the Phoenix on 01865 316570 or Jeremy Smith on 01865 425435.