THE chief executive of Odeon Cinemas left the company on the day after we delivered your Save York Odeon campaign message, it was confirmed today.

The cinema chain has confirmed Ian Pluthero left the company on Friday, March 12, and said it had not yet found a replacement.

Mr Pluthero's reason for leaving is not known.

York MP Hugh Bayley and town crier John Redpath accompanied the Evening Press to London the day before Mr Pluthero's departure, to hand senior Odeon chiefs the petition containing an incredible 13,600 signatures.

The cinema chain's executives had refused to accept the petition by hand at their headquarters near Leicester Square and told us to post it through the letterbox.

But after 30 minutes waiting outside, an unnamed employee eventually agreed to take it in after we were left waiting outside for more than 30 minutes. Odeon marketing director Ron Hanlon is now in possession of the signatures.

Odeon expert Derek Atkins, 48, of The Mount, York, who visits a cinema eight times a week, said Mr Pluthero's exit left a cloud of uncertainty over the company.

"Nobody knows what is going on," he said.

"I fear for the Odeon's future, as there doesn't seem to be anyone who can hold it together. It could have dire consequences for the York Odeon."

A spokeswoman for Odeon Cinemas said: "Odeon can confirm that Ian Pluthero, the chief executive of Odeon cinemas, left the company on Friday, March 12, 2004.

"Odeon has not yet appointed a full-time replacement but will communicate any appointment as and when it is made."

Meanwhile, the Evening Press recently reported that leading Odeon campaigner Gary Haq, of Wolsley Street, York, had urged those who signed the petition to join his group, dedicated to watching films at the Blossom Street picture house.

He said he was keen to show the company the cinema still had a bright future in the city, and to stave off the threat of it being sold to the highest bidder.

The Save The Odeon Cinema Club will run regular informal trips for its members and look to launch an internet forum to debate the films and current Odeon news.

Updated: 14:04 Wednesday, March 31, 2004