Oakworth station is being used for the filming of a big screen version of Evelyn Waugh's famous novel Brideshead Revisited, starring Emma Thompson.

A scene depicting Charles Ryder as he arrives by train to visit central character Sebastian Flyte and is picked up by Sebastian's sister, Julia, was played out during the first day of filming at the station yesterday.

Rising stars Matthew Goode and Hayley Atwell, who play Charles and Julia, thrilled onlookers on site.

Members of Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) worked alongside production company Ecosse Films to turn back time to the 1920s, when the novel is set.

The association also lent a vintage goods engine, a Lancashire and Yorkshire A class, for the shoot.

Filming liaison officer for KWVR, Roger France said Ecosse Films approached it about a month ago with a view to filming.

Mr France, who was on set from 6.30am to 4.30pm, said: "We were delighted to be asked. We had worked with the film company before and so they obviously knew what location shots were available.

"The main work we had to do was dressing the station and the production company brought other props, including cars and they even brought some sheep. In fact, a lamb was born on set.

"We are used to filming here every year, some filming for Housewife 49' with Victoria Wood was shot here and it was similar to that.

"The story of Brideshead Revisited is one of the most important novels of the 20th century so it is really good to be associated with it."

It is not the first time the station has attracted the movie industry with the 1970 film version of The Railway Children shot in Oakworth.

Film of the Keighley and Worth Valley line have also been used for the drama Where the Heart Is and documentary The Making of the Middle Classes.

The 11-week shoot will move on to Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, where the 1981 Granada television adaptation of the novel, starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews, was filmed.

Other locations being used are London, Venice and Morocco.

The latest production of Brideshead Revisited has been jointly adapted for the screen by Welsh-born screenwriter Andrew Davies and writer and director Jeremy Brock. Mr Davies's previous adaptations include Pride and Prejudice in 1995 and Bleak House in 2005.