The Screen Machine, the UK's first mobile cinema, left Inverness today (Saturday 15th July) for a tour of duty of Bosnia where it will entertain 4,000 British and SFOR (stabilising force) troops over four weeks.

Four members of the local regiment, the Highlanders were on hand to salute the forces' newest recruit before it embarked on the 2,000 mile, week-long journey across Europe.

The Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC), a charitable organisation who arrange entertainment for forces personnel stationed abroad, have hired the mobile cinema and hope this pilot tour will lead to the construction of their very own Screen Machine.

Classed as an 'abnormal load', the articulated lorry which houses the 102-seater cinema, will have to contend with difficult tunnels, rock overhangs, and several steep mountain roads before arriving in Bosnia for its posting. However the route should be easy enough for the Screen Machine drivers who are experienced in negotiating single track roads throughout the Highlands and Islands.

According to HI-Arts, the arts development agency for the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network, who look after the Screen Machine, the trickiest part of this manoeuvre has been the colossal amount of paperwork and red tape.

Acting Screen Machine manager, Graham Campbell said: "We have had to scrutinise the route the Screen Machine is taking down to the very last detail and only this week we received the last of the official paperwork for some of the border crossings.

"The Screen Machine has brought the latest Hollywood offerings and some welcome entertainment to people living in remote communities in the Highlands and Islands. We are delighted to be able to offer it to the SSVC for a tour of Bosnia to entertain soldiers and civil servants whom, like Scotland's rural communities, do not have access to a cinema.

"The hire of the Screen Machine to the SSVC also helps us to fulfil our original aim of providing a model for the development of other mobile cinemas."

Troops based at Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Sipovo, Mkronjic Grad and Sanski Most will see some of the most recent big movie releases such as 'Kevin and Perry Go Large', 'Gladiator', 'Saving Grace' and 'U-571'.