An athletics arena in Bury St Edmunds will be transformed into an open air cinema in celebration of a leisure centre’s 40th anniversary.

Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre will go back in time on July 24 when it hosts outdoor showings of 1975 cult film, The Rocky Horror Show, followed by the Steven Spielberg classic Jaws on July 25, both at the adjoining West Suffolk Athletics Arena.

The Rocky Horror Show – a musical comedy horror film directed by Jim Sharman – is not the usual movie-going experience, with audiences often enjoying dressing up.

Jaws, which is now digitally re-mastered, was also released in 1975.

The events are being sponsored by Bury St Edmunds-based brewing firm Greene King.

Simon Ginders-Coxshall, operations director for Abbeycroft Leisure, which manages the centre, said: “We wanted to celebrate our 40th birthday throughout the year and what better way to celebrate than the showing of two classic films which were released the year the centre opened?

“We have never held an open air cinema event before here at the centre and we hope film lovers will join us at these two fantastic events.”

Tickets can be purchased from the Apex box office by calling 01284 758000.

Tickets for The Rocky Horror Show, rated 15, on Friday, July 24, are priced at £5, while tickets for Jaws, rated 12A, on Saturday, July 25, are £5 for adults and £1 for children.

Food, refreshments and a licensed bar will be available during the events. Gates open at 8pm and both films start at 9.15pm.

Attendees can bring picnics, chairs and blankets as the screen will be on the grassed area in the centre of the athletics arena.