Part of Norfolk is set to be viewed by film fans across the country from next year after being heavily featured in a new 'Brit-flick' movie.

Cameras and famous actors have descended on locations across south Norfolk for the last few weeks for the shooting of the Haunting of Harry Payne.

The film crew has taken over an empty shop in Cobbs Yard in Diss and also turned the Bird in Hand pub at Wreningham into a movie set for the supernatural thriller.

The feature film, which is set for cinema release early next year, stars a host of well-known television actors, including Tony Scannell, of The Bill, former Coronation Street actress Louis Selwyn, Katie Manning, of Doctor Who fame, and Graham Cole, who also starred in The Bill.

The movie, which is being produced by Norwich-based Equilibrium Films and is directed by Martyn Pick, tells the story of ex-gangster Harry Payne who leaves prison after serving time for manslaughter, and retires to a mysterious Norfolk village to care for his disturbed wife, Susan.

There he becomes prime suspect in a series of brutal murders where women are being killed at the crossroads where a ghostly 'white lady' has been sighted. At the same time Harry is being haunted by the spirit of the man he killed.

Andrew Selwyn-Crome, executive producer, who lives in Eye, said he was keen to promote what the area had to offer.

'There is so much talent here and there is an amazing amount of actors and technicians. We are still very committed to making the east of England the centre for film making. We have had wonderful community support.'

'It is a low budget film and we have financed it privately, but it will not look low budget. It will have an international impact,' he said.

The film crew temporarily turned the Bird in Hand at Wreningham into the Old Black Dog while they filmed at the pub and transformed the shop in Cobbs Yard in Diss for two days. They also hope to stage a premiere of the film in the area.

'We are trying to do something that will make Norfolk and Suffolk proud and we will continue to do this in the East,' said Mr Selwyn-Crome, who is also developing Shuck: The Movie, based on the ghostly black dog, which is said to have roamed the East Anglian coastline.

The score for the film will be produced by Rick Wakeman, of Yes fame, who lives near Diss. The crew has also been shooting in Rendlesham, Woodbridge and Dunwich in Suffolk.

Young Norfolk guitarist Oli Brown, of Sco Ruston, near Coltishall, also featured in the movie during filming at Wreningham.

Aspiring actors were able to become part of the movie by bidding on an online auction site to become extras.adam.gretton@archant.co.uk