CINEMA managers are having a bumper summer holiday following a glut of kid-friendly films.

Weekend showings of the much anticipated Men In Black II, starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, sold out at Bolton's two cinemas.

Children are also continuing to buy tickets for the summer's other big smashes, including Scooby Doo and Stuart Little 2.

Still pulling in the crowds are Spider-Man and, more recently, Austin Powers In Goldmember, although they have been pulling in a slightly older audience due to a 12 certificate.

James Booth, manager of UGC Cinemas, in Astley Bridge, said: "It's another great year for films and it's great to see so many youngsters coming through the doors.

"Maybe it's because of the wet weather, but audiences are up on last year and we're expecting more interest towards December. The sequels to Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are sure to be popular."

Men In Black II, he said, benefited from "drip-advertising", where movie-makers link the film to a variety of commercial products to enable them to keep the hype going for longer.

A spokesman for Warner Village Cinemas, Horwich, said: "Men In Black II was sold out over the weekend. It's been very well received and I haven't heard a bad review."

The film follows the exploits of two secret agents as they protect the Earth from aliens.

Spider-Man is still number one in Bolton, followed by the latest Star Wars film. The latest figures are expected to show Men In Black II is at number three.