Blue Story, a BBC-backed gang film, has been banned from Vue cinemas following 25 'significant incidents' at 16 cinemas on the day it was released, including a mass brawl involving youths armed with knives and machetes outside a screening in Birmingham.

The film, about a postcode war in south London, will not be shown in any of the chain’s UK venues after a riot at the Star City multiplex in Nechells, Birmingham, on Saturday.

Families queuing to watch the opening night of Frozen 2 at the cinema were horrified when a fight between three girls escalated into major disorder at 5.30pm.

Seven police officers were injured as they arrested five teenagers and used Tasers to clear a crowd of up to 100 people from the cinema, which was then closed for the night.

Today, the cinema group said the decision to withdraw the film from its schedules was made on the grounds of "safety alone".