A film company is to shoot a documentary at Bradford's Undercliffe Cemetery to highlight the importance of the site for future generations.

Barleybrook Films has been asked by Councillor Allan Hillary, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, to produce a film documenting the history of the cemetery by speaking to the people who are trying to save it.

David Weber, the company's director, said he hoped filming could start before Christmas.

"We are hoping to raise the profile of the site as it's such a historically important site," he said, "but we want to give it even more importance.

"I've always been interested in the cemetery and it really fascinates me. It really has to be the most stunning setting in the city."

Mr Weber, of Ilkley, said he would be interviewing the Lord Mayor and members of the Undercliffe Cemetery Charity, which maintains the site, to gather information about its past.

He said that the documentary, when finished, would be sent to libraries and museums in the district for people to borrow and watch.

"Youngsters in the future need educating about how important this site is," he added.

The film would be sent to television companies as well, said Mr Weber.

The Lord Mayor said he approached Mr Weber about a possible documentary after Barleybrook Films captured footage of this year's inaugural Saltaire Festival.

"I'm looking forward to this documentary and think it will be great for Bradford, great for the cemetery and will boost tourism," he said.

Coun Hillary, a member of the Idle and Greengates Rotary Club, said he and other members had helped clear overgrown bushes and weeds from around 200 graves in the cemetery.

He also paid tribute to the work of the Undercliffe Cemetery Charity.

Colin Clark, one of six dedicated volunteers who look after the cemetery, said: "We are at a crossroads as our group will not be able to maintain the place for much longer due to wastage of manpower. We hope this film will raise the profile." Many of Bradford's most famous residents are buried among the 23,000 graves at the 25-acre cemetery, including the first Lord Mayor of Bradford, John Arthur Godwin, and Charlotte Bronte's nursemaid. Also laid to rest there are Bradford soldiers who have been awarded the Victoria Cross, including Matthew Hughes who fought in the Crimean War.

It has in the past been declared by the Heritage Lottery Fund as the best-kept, and one of the most important cemeteries in the north of England.

The site has also been used as a setting for Keith Waterhouse's feature film, Billy Liar, and for television programmes such as Band of Gold.