'Bring back cinema ushers to keep an eye on manners'

But if film fans have their way, they could soon be making a comeback.

A growing frustration with bad manners has been revealed by focus groups organised by the UK Film Council. They want ushers to help return the cinema to a sanctuary of courtesy, decency and respect.

David Steele, head of the council's statistical unit, said: "People don't seem to believe they should stay quiet any more and many regular cinemagoers think it is time for the return of ushers. They say we need a cinema police."

At one time, no picture house was complete without its ushers and usherettes. They wore dark clothes and checked tickets before showing the audience to their seats with a torch beam.

They would stand at the back during the film and could put a stop to unruly behaviour, while an usherette - known as the girl with the tray - sold ice cream and soft drinks during the interval.

But the advent of multi-screen complexes in the 1980s has seen their numbers dwindle - although they are often still found in independent cinemas.

It could be that the call for their reinstatement comes largely from the increasing numbers of older men and women who go to the cinema.

The number of over-45s in the audience has doubled in a decade - from 19 to 38 million.