Queues formed outside the South Holland Centre last week to see the all-singing, all-dancing film starring Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth but some left disappointed as tickets sold out.

The movie was a sell-out at the South Holland Centre with more than 3,000 tickets sold for 11 screenings, which ended on Thursday.

Centre manager Sally Harrison said the cinema’s 280 seats were mostly fully booked.

Extra seats had to be brought in on the front rows, which are not normally used for film showings, and were quickly snapped up.

There were also screenings in the day as part of the summer holiday programme.

Sally said: “On Wednesday night we had some seats to sell at the last minute but we have been turning people away. It has been one of the best selling films here, although Ladies in Lavender and Calendar Girls were also very popular.

“The great thing about this summer is the cinema produced is very good. There are a lot of strong films. We’ve already shown Sex and The City and Indiana Jones.

“We have Kung Fu Panda and Wall-E to come as well as the new Narnia film.”

Lincolnshire Free Press deputy news editor Kate Chapman was lucky enough to get her hands on one of the hottest tickets in town.

She said: “I can’t remember the last time I went to the cinema and heard an audience laugh so much, let alone start singing and dancing in the aisles.

“But that is exactly what happened as the magic of Mamma Mia! played out before us on the big screen as bride-to-be Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) tries to find her real father before she walks down the aisle.”

The summer blockbuster is based on the music of 1970s supergroup Abba and features classics such as Voulez Vous, Winner Takes it All, Dancing Queen and Take a Chance on Me.

Mamma Mia! is still showing at West End Cinema, Boston, and Showcase Cinema in Peterborough.