A GWENT filmmaker is appealing for the return of a laptop stolen from Brynmawr Market Hall Cinema which contains “hundreds of hours of work”.

Peter Watkins-Hughes said he was “disappointed” after the laptop was taken from the office of Wales’ oldest continuously running cinema on Saturday. The computer contains work related to developing the cinema including business plans, funding applications and templates for items such as monthly newsletters.

The work was done by volunteers within the cinema, which celebrates 120 years next year. Mr Watkins-Hughes, spokesman for the Market Hall Brynmawr community group which campaigned to save the cinema from closure, said he left the office for around 20 seconds on Saturday when the laptop was taken.

He said: “It’s not about the piece of material. It’s the hundreds of hours of work on there which will affect the running of the cinema. Somebody is putting it in jeopardy.”

The cinema has been run as a community enterprise since June 27 when it reopened after a three-week closure for essential maintenance to take place. In September, Blaenau Gwent Council approved plans to grant a 21-year lease of the premises to the group securing its future. This means the group can secure grants to assist with refurbishment.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: “At about 1.55pm a man entered the cinema and stole an Acer laptop from the office within. The man is described as being white, five feet nine inches tall and of slim build with blonde hair. He was wearing a light coloured body warmer, blue denim jeans and white trainers.”

Anyone who saw him or who has been offered a laptop by someone fitting the description, can call police on 101 quoting log number 334 30/11/13. A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and released on police bail pending further enquiries.