Struggling theatre chain Cineworld has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US after fighting to survive post-lockdown.

The company, which has four cinemas in Kent, has seen lower than average audience numbers since reopening after the pandemic and blames a lack of blockbuster films for its downfall.

In a bid to save the company, it has filed for a Chapter 11 protection in the States - which is a court-supervised re-structuring that will give bosses more time to negotiate with creditors to reach a settlement.

According to the Guardian, Cineworld says it “will seek to implement a deleveraging transaction that will significantly reduce the group’s debt, strengthen its balance sheet and provide the financial strength and flexibility to accelerate, and capitalise on, Cineworld’s strategy in the cinema industry”.

It hopes to emerge from bankruptcy proceedings in early 2023, and has $1.94bn in financing from lenders to help it through.

Last month the company's market value more than halved after it had started talks with stakeholders about a financial rescue package.

Since then, it has sparked fears the company's cinemas in Ashford, Dover and Rochester could be forced to close their doors.

It also owns Regal cinemas in the US and the Picturehouse chain which has a cinema at the Elwick Place leisure complex in Ashford town centre.

The worrying news comes after a new IMAX and 4DX extension finally opened at its Ashford site on Eureka Leisure Park earlier this year.

Work on the long-awaited upgrade began in March 2020, five years after the plans were approved, but Covid lockdowns delayed the construction.

The 4DX screen is the only one in Kent and offers a rollercoaster-like experience where seats shake and water is sprayed on film-goers.

Heavy rain caused weather damage to Cineworld in Ashford yesterday forcing it to close at short notice.