It's the film of the book - but the book doesn't really exist. Simon Ashberry goes on location in deepest Bradford.

"WATERSTONES recommends Sweet Surrender," said the poster.

The giant display in the main window of the book shop in Market Street, Bradford, positively raved about the book.

"A tale of love, death and passion," it went on.

"A major new talent, Kate Dickson's dialogue is sharp and her sense of timing excellent."

But anyone tempted to go in and ask for a copy of the novel yesterday was in for a shock - it doesn't exist.

The poster for the fictitious book was in fact there for a scene being shot for Yorkshire writer Kay Mellor's new film Fanny and Elvis.

Waterstones even had to fend off several customers interested in buying a copy of the non-existent Sweet Surrender.

"We can't wait to take it down before anyone else comes in to ask about it and why they've never heard of it," said one member of staff.

And actress Kerry Fox, who stars as the debutant novelist in Fanny and Elvis, joked: "I hope we've sold plenty of copies if there has been so much interest!"

The scenes filmed yesterday were of her screen boyfriend, played by Ray Winstone, stumbling across her doing a book signing session.

They also featured Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders, who said she was enjoying visiting Bradford, where her comedian husband Adrian Edmondson was born.

"I have been here before but I don't know it that well. His parents moved away when he was quite young so he doesn't come very often any more," she told the Telegraph & Argus while relaxing between takes in the Seattle Coffee Company above Waterstones.

Fanny and Elvis is Leeds-based Kay Mellor's debut as a film director.

The writer, who is best known for her controversial television series Band of Gold based on the lives of a group of Bradford prostitutes, said "It's nice to be able to be here on location."

She would not be drawn, however, on the title of the film. "That's a secret. I can't tell you."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.