A dementia-friendly cinema at a care home - believed to be the first of its kind in Suffolk - was formally opened by a town's mayor.

Felixstowe mayor David Rowe visited Cotman House, in Garfield Road, Felixstowe, to launch the new venue where people with dementia can watch classic films and musicals.

Staff at the care home have converted a window-less room into a 12-seater cinema with the aim to provide a place where people with the condition could get out of their home and enjoy a movie.

READ MORE: Staff at Cotman House in Felixstowe have converted room

Mr Rowe said: "It was really good. They showed me all around and it had nice comfy seats.

"The people who were using it at the time thought it was fantastic. They seemed to be really enjoying it and we all had popcorn."

At the time of his visit, the audience was watching the 1939 Judy Garland film Wizard of Oz.

Felixstowe mayor David Rowe watches Wizard of Oz in the new dementia-friendly cinemaFelixstowe mayor David Rowe watches Wizard of Oz in the new dementia-friendly cinema (Image: Lucy Taylor) Earlier this week, Chantal Sencier, senior customer relationship manager at the home, said the cinema was open to the public, but visitors needed to book a place beforehand by emailing her.

She said: "There is nowhere for people with dementia in Felixstowe so we wanted to make it a free, dementia-friendly experience.

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"If someone was wondering 'what can I do with mum?' They could try this free, dementia-friendly experience."

The new cinema will create a sensory experience reminiscent of the cinemas of the audience's youthThe new cinema will create a sensory experience reminiscent of the cinemas of the audience's youth (Image: Cotman House) The aim is to encourage reminiscence by showing classic films and musicals, such as The Sound of Music and Singin' In The Rain.

Ms Sencier said the movies would be tailored to the audience, therefore if it was a predominantly male attendance, a James Bond film might be screened.

READ MORE: Felixstowe news 

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A sensory experience will also be provided with different smells in the room to remind visitors of the cinemas of their youth, while there will be popcorn and smoothies, while the room will be better lit than a conventional, darkened cinema while the movie's on.

Screenings will be taking place on the first Friday of every month between 2pm and 3pm.