Movie's set to blow world fame our way

Blow Dry - from the pen of Full Monty writer and local boy Simon Beaufoy - is set in his home town of Keighley.

The story revolves around the glamorous national hairdressing championships, which Keighley is chosen to host.

Stars of the movie - released on March 30 - include Alan Rickman and Natasha Richardson, and Warren Clarke, pictured, as the Lord Mayor of Keighley.

Parts of the action were filmed at Bradford's City Hall.

And a special screening has already been staged in Manchester for regional cinema bosses.

The film was well received by the audience, and distributor Buena Vista International (UK) Ltd said the production had met with a similar response at other early screenings.

Now efforts are being launched - by Charles Morris, of Northern Morris Associated Cinemas, which runs Keighley's Picture House - to bring a regional premiere to Keighley.

This week the movie was hailed as potentially the biggest cinematic boost for the town since The Railway Children was filmed three decades ago.

Mike Millbank, chairman of Keighley Town Centre Management, said: "As soon as I first heard about this film I thought it could do for Keighley what The Full Monty has done for South Yorkshire. It is a splendid opportunity."

Keighley councillor Barry Thorne said the movie should put the town on the map.

He said preparations must be made to fully realise the potential benefits, and he would discuss the matter with Bradford Council marketing chiefs.

Former Keighley & Worth Valley Railway chairman Graham Mitchell - who was involved in the Railway Children filming in 1970 and actually appeared in the timeless classic - shares the hopes for the new movie.

But he added: "I have found from experience that people want to visit places they have seen in a film and look at an identifiable building or structure. That has certainly been the case with Oakworth railway station. It is a shame none of the filming for Blow Dry was done in Keighley."