IF absence makes the heart grow fonder, James Herriot devotees will be flocking to the region next month for another nostalgic look at life in 1930s' Darrowby.

In what has been heralded as a major coup, a tiny volunteer-run cinema in the heart of Herriot Country has secured the British Film Institute's permission to screen the classic movie, It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet, as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Fans are expected to turn out in force at The Ritz Cinema, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, on June 5 and 6.

Last seen on television 15 years ago, the sequel to All Creatures Great and Small sees John Alderton take on the role of Herriot, tackling all manner of animal ailments prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Lisa Harrow and Colin Blakely co-starred in the 1976 production, set in the fictional Yorkshire Dales town of Darrowby.

The popularity of James Herriot has also spawned a hugely lucrative tourism industry in North Yorkshire, and it is hoped that the Herriot name will help in the fightback against the effects of foot-and-mouth disease.

The screenings will be the highlights of Herriot Happenings Week, an initiative which aims to bring tourists back to the region.

The secretary of the Ritz Cinema's management committee, Michele I'Anson, said: "It has taken us three years to secure this film.

"We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to show the sequel to All Creatures Great and Small in the home town of James Herriot.

"It is a great achievement for a small cinema and we hope visitors and local people will come and share the experiences of our local vet and the part he played in the life of a small market town."

The film will be shown on June 5 and 6, at 7.30pm, with another screening at 2.30pm on June 6. Tickets are priced from £2, and further information is available on (01845) 522755.