Bradford schoolboy Matthew Blamires has landed a lead role in a new film about the skinhead gang culture of the 1980s.

Matthew, 14, a pupil at Buttershaw School, is in the British movie This is England and has been filming his first scenes in Nottingham this week.

"I went for the main part and it got down to just me and another boy," said Matthew, of Horton Bank Top.

"They chose him, but they offered me the part of a boy who joins a local gang and teases other characters. It's quite a funny role which I'm pleased about as comedy is what I want to focus on. My hero is Robin Williams."

Matthew's head hadn't been shaved for the early scenes but he was expecting to have it done later on in the filming.

The youngster has been at Stardom School for Performing Arts in Shelf for two years, studying drama, singing, jazz and tap dancing.

"This is my first professional role," he said. "It's exciting seeing how a film is made."

Principal Liz Davies said: "Matthew made it down to the final two and the director was really impressed. Even though he wasn't right for the main part he still wanted him in the film. Matthew has bags of personality and a comic role will suit him really well."

The film is produced by Sheffield-based company Warp Films. Producer Mark Herbert, who also produced Channel 4 sitcom Phoenix Nights, described it as a "coming of age film about the tribal culture of the 1980s".

"It's set over the summer of 1983 in northern England, we're filming in Nottingham and Grimsby," he said.

"It's about an 11-year-old boy called Sean who's mourning the loss of his father. He falls in with skinheads and gets caught up in the conflicts and peer pressure of gang culture.

"The film seeks to shatter some of the myths that skinheads are all violent racist thugs. This gang isn't evil, just lads seeking comfort in numbers. Sean is a boy looking for love in the wrong places.

"Matthew plays a teasing kid who picks on others a bit, it's a great comic role. We have a terrific young cast."

The film is based on a screenplay by the director, Shane Meadows.

"There's an authentic 80s feel to it, it's a snapshot of life for one boy over the summer," said Mark. "There will be an Eighties soundtrack."

The film, due for release next year, was partly funded by Leeds-based regional film agency Screen Yorkshire. The agency helped to secure locations in Grimsby and provided CVs from its database of local crew.

Head of production Hugo Heppell said: "We are thrilled to be working with Warp Films, it is among the most dynamic and exciting companies in the region and Shane Meadows is one of the country's leading filmmakers. This is England is a powerful regional story that will do for Grimsby what Little Voice did for Scarborough."

Screen Yorkshire, partly funded by Yorkshire Forward, attracts film-makers to the region and encourages them to use local actors and crews.

Through the agency's support, several productions have been made in Bradford district, including BBC1 period drama North and South, filmed in Keighley; ITV's firefighting drama Steel River Blues, partly filmed at the West Yorkshire Fire Service Headquarters in Birkenshaw; Yasmin, a film about British muslims written by Keighley's Simon Beaufoy, shot and set in Lawkholme; and TV medical dramas No Angels and Bodies made at the former High Royds psychiatric hospital in Menston. A third series of No Angels is currently filming at High Royds.