Two young Yorkshire lovers are filmed snatching a kiss in a railway carriage as it thunders through a tunnel.

It is 1899 and a milestone in movie making history is created.

Shot by Holmfirth-based Bamforth and Co, The Kiss in the Tunnel was the first edited film in history, beating even Hollywood.

Now, the 60 seconds of flickering black and white footage is being used to inspire modern movie makers.

The scene was recreated yesterday at Ingrow Railway Centre on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, to start a nationwide competition.

And taking on the 21st century role of the young lovers was 18-year-old Gina Metcalfe, of Wheathead Lane, Keighley, and Lee Watson, 17, of Leeds, both performing arts students at Thomas Danby college in Leeds.

They were filmed passing through Ingrow tunnel at Keighley.

The competition invites people to make a 60 second clip, by mobile phone or camcorder, capturing their favourite part of Yorkshire.

The winners will receive prizes and their movies will feature in a premiere. Footage will also be used on the new pennineyorkshire.com website.

The judges will be made up of experts at Screen Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Tourism Partnership, which is running Pennine Yorkshire to promote tourism in Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale, Leeds and Wakefield.

Liz Tattersley, manager at the partnership, said it was thought fitting to remember Bamforth’s contribution to the film industry by asking visiting tourists to capture short clips of their favourite areas of the region.

The competition was part of a new move to promote Pennine Yorkshire and to show it could stand alone as a place to attract tourists.

She said: “This area can rival some of the more traditional locations like the Dales and Lakes and be a proper destination, especially in relation to the fantastic industrial heritage and landscape. Previously, the local authorities were working alone – as a partnership we can be more effective.”

Tony Dixon, emerging talent manager at Screen Yorkshire, said: “The Kiss in the Tunnel – albeit only a minute or so long – is an extremely significant part of film history.

“It’s amazing to think that one of Yorkshire’s sons was responsible for film-making techniques that Hollywood has emulated.”

  • To enter the competition people should send clips as a mpeg/MWV file to film@pennineyorkshire.com, send an MMS to 07718 921807 or post a CD or DVD to Bamforth Film Competition, c/o Lucre, 30 Park Square West, Leeds, LS12PF.