SCENES for the much-anticipated Downton Abbey movie have been filmed in Bradford’s historic Little Germany.

The film, which follows the global hit ITV period drama is the latest period drama to be shot in the city.

Burnett Street was closed to traffic today, and lighting was visible on adjoining Cater Street, blocked to the public. Trailers, with cabling, were parked on surrounding streets.

The owner of a business near Cater Street said: “We were told not to take any photographs, it seems to be a closed set. We’ve had a lot of filming here recently," he said. "When they filmed Gentleman Jack we saw some filming and the set on the street, and the cast walking about, including Suranne Jones."

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Sarah Fletcher, who lives in an apartment in Little Germany, said: “I saw vintage cars driving to the set, and there are wooden boardings up. I was hoping to see Dame Maggie Smith but all I’ve seen so far are cars with tinted windows coming in and out. There’s been stuff on social media about it being the Downton Abbey film. I can’t wait to see it, I loved the TV show. It’s great for the area that there's so much filming here. Bradford is a film hotbed, especially historical dramas like Peaky Blinders. It’s like living in Hollywood!”

Set in a fictional Yorkshire country estate, Downton Abbey is centred on the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. The first series opened in 1912 and the final series was set in the 1920s. Bradford actress Sophie McShera, a former pupil of St Joseph’s College in Manningham, played kitchen maid Daisy Mason, alongside Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan and Elizabeth McGovern.

Bradford has been used for location filming for various films and TV productions in recent months. In September scenes for the third Commando Bollywood thriller were shot in Little Germany and on Hall Ings, near The Broadway shopping centre. Little Germany's historic streets were also used for BBC dramas Gentleman Jack and The ABC Murders.

In August Hollywood actor John Malkovich and Harry Potter star Rupert Grint were at City Hall and Bradford Club shooting a new Poirot murder mystery, due to be a Christmas TV highlight, and scenes for the third series of lavish ITV drama Victoria were recently filmed in and around City Hall.

Also over summer, Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge filmed in City Park and Bradford College, and Netflix series The Innocents, starring Guy Pearce, filmed at Thorpe Edge, Ilkley and Addingham.