Two of Scotland's best- loved art-house cinemas, the Cameo in Edinburgh and the Belmont in Aberdeen, have been bought by the Cineworld chain as part of a £47.3 million deal.

However, as part of the deal announced yesterday, which saw Cineworld buy the Picturehouse chain and its 21 UK cinemas, the owners say their identity will not change.

However, some expressed worries yesterday on social mediaabout the future of the Cameo and Belmont .

One dissenting voice though was Mark Cousins, the leading film critic and filmmaker, who said: "I don't at all agree with you who are saying that Picturehouses are doomed. But Cineworld has to understand its new role and get diversity."

Cineworld will also buy the film distribution arm, Picturehouse Entertainment, which has a number of releases since launching in December 2010.

Picturehouse, which has 750 staff, will continue to be run as a separate business within Cineworld, and its existing management team will remain in place.

Picturehouse is expected to earn £5m in 2012.