FILMING for a major new comedy-drama is taking place in Saltaire.

Scenes for Funny Cow, starring Maxine Peake – in the title role – and Vic Reeves, are being shot in the village today and tomorrow.

Parts of both Mary Street and Upper Mary Street were closed for filming and residents were asked to move their cars.

The film, to be released later this year, charts the rise of a comedienne during the 1960s and 1970s.

The Saltaire scenes feature Peake’s character during her childhood in the 1950s.

The production company created a 1950s set in a two-bedroom terraced house in Mary Street. Filming also took place in an alleyway behind Mary Street.

Kevin Proctor, the film’s producer, said Saltaire had provided the perfect backdrop for the scenes.

“We quickly decided that Saltaire was the perfect location for our film when we came up to see it,” he said.

“Saltaire is cinematic. We have not had to build any sets, it is already here.

“It has given us a snapshot of England that we don’t see any more. It is a picture postcard of what Yorkshire used to be like.

“The sections of the film done in Saltaire show Funny Cow as a girl in the 1950s and she is known as Funny Calf at this stage.

“People will see Saltaire when the film is released and get goosebumps. It is not just a location, it is somewhere we have picked.”

Filming for Funny Cow has also taken place at other Bradford district locations including the Midland Hotel, Bradford Playhouse and Shipley Market Square.

David Wilson, director of Bradford City of Film, said Funny Cow was a further boost to the district.

He said: “We have been working really hard with the production company over the last two or three months.

“We have been building on our film-friendly reputation.

“We have a long list of people who want to come back and film in the Bradford district.

“The district has been used because of its rich film heritage. It has been used a film location for the last 100 years.”