Working on the set of the new film Bronte is a world away from amateur theatre, but that's where 27 year-old Andrew Tomlinson got his inspiration.

Andrew, a former student at Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton, first got involved in set designing as a small boy with Haworth West Lane Baptist Amateur Operatic Society.

Now he is stand-by art director to top film designer Charles Sturridge on the new film Bronte, which stars Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Williams and Bryce Dallas Howard as the famous sisters.

He has been back home - his family live in Oldfield, near Oakworth - convincing Mr Sturridge Haworth's Main Street must be included in the film, which starts shooting in a few weeks.

Andrew said: "The film could have been made anywhere but I thought we couldn't make a film of the Brontes without getting Haworth in somewhere.

"It is fraught with difficulty because of the way the shops have changed over the years, but the area has a huge place in my heart.

"Coming home to work from London, where I live, is important for me."

His rise from humble, unpaid junior in a film company art department, to his role in helping to set the style of the movie which traces the lives of the three sisters and their family, has come in four short years.

It all started in a rehearsal room in Haworth watching dad Steve and his late mum Elisabeth go through their lines.

They were members of Haworth West Lane Baptist Amateur Operatic Society preparing for their annual Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.

"I owe everything to my mum and dad taking me down there and to the people who encouraged me. That is where the spark was created," he said.

"It was only when I was studying at college in Wimbledon I realised there was such a job as theatre design - I didn't think you could make a living from it."

His first break came thanks to Moira Tate, of the National Film School, who got him work experience with production designer, Michael Howells on the film, Shackleton.

After university, Andrew was invited again to join Mr Howells as an art department assistant and then went on to work on the Stephen Fry's movie Bright Young Things.

His role in Bronte is more crucial - he is responsible for accuracy when planning locations, sets and studio work and has to be present during the seven-week shoot.

His artistic skills do not stop in the world of film and theatre. Recently, he used his know-how to design one of the covers for a Jools Holland album.

And he has just returned home from Paris where he was helping design catwalks.