Uncertainty surrounds the future of a Kent town's two cinemas as the global chain which owns them faces debts of £5bn.

Cineworld, which runs two theatres in Ashford, plus two others in Kent, has confirmed it is considering filing for bankruptcy in the US after falling into debt totalling billions of pounds.

While it maintains its operations will be unaffected by the move, the announcement has sparked speculation about the impact on its UK venues.

The global chain opened Cineworld in Ashford in 1999 and earlier this year launched its new IMAX and 4DX screens as part of a multi-million pound investment.

The town's other cinema, Picturehouse - also owned by Cineworld - only opened in 2018 and was the anchor tenant on the £75m Elwick Place complex, where it is surrounded by restaurants and a Travelodge hotel.

Cineworld insists its cinemas “remain open for business” and there will be “no significant impact” on jobs.

But the news has unsettled film fans in Ashford, who say they would be “absolutely gutted” if the town was left without a cinema in the future.

Viv and Dan Hadaway have Cineworld Unlimited cards and are regular visitors to the venue at Eureka Leisure Centre.

Speaking outside the cinema this week, Mrs Hadaway said: “We literally come here at least once a week, if not twice.

“I work for a nursery and all my children, they come all the time and they use the 4DX and they think it is amazing.

“I think it would be a shame for them [if the cinemas were ever to close]. It’s not quite the same sitting at home.

“I think it’s also a shame because you’ve got all these eateries around here.”

But evidence of Cineworld’s struggles was plain to see on Mrs Hadaway’s visit, as she says she and her husband were among just eight people in their screening.

The company - the second biggest cinema chain in the world - has blamed a drop in the number of big blockbuster movies since the Covid pandemic hit.

Box office takings this year are down by 32% on 2019.

Emma Chittock, from Lenham, visited Picturehouse in Elwick Road this week and said she and her children would be sad to see the town without a movie theatre.

“We love the experience more than anything,” she said.

“It’s not the same as streaming a film at home.

“We’ll probably do Cineworld in the next couple of days. They love the cinema so for us to have to travel even further would be real pain.”

There are 127 Cineworld venues in the UK and two others in Kent, in Dover and Rochester.

Globally, the chain employs about 28,000 people across 10 countries.

It said on Monday it was looking at various options for how to restructure the business, including a Chapter 11 filing in the US.

This allows a company to continue to operate while it negotiates with its creditors.

The company would not comment on whether it was also considering entering liquidation in the UK, or what the potential impact could be on its 4,600 employees here.

It said in a statement: “Cineworld and Regal theatres globally are open for business as usual and continue to welcome guests and members.

“The strategic options through which Cineworld may achieve its restructuring objectives include a possible voluntary Chapter 11 filing in the United States and associated ancillary proceedings in other jurisdictions as part of an orderly implementation process.

“Cineworld is in discussions with many of its major stakeholders, including its secured lenders and their legal and financial advisers.

“Cineworld would expect to maintain its operations in the ordinary course until and following any filing and ultimately to continue its business over the longer term with no significant impact upon its employees.”

While recent films such as Top Gun: Maverick and The Batman have proved box office hits, the firm says there has not been a return to pre-pandemic visitor numbers.

“These lower levels of admissions are due to a limited film slate that is anticipated to continue until November 2022 and are expected to negatively impact trading and the group’s liquidity position in the near term,” it added.