A new film from Alan Bennett has started production in Saltaire, near Bradford.

According to the Bradford-based Telegraph and Argus, residents of the UNESCO World Heritage site received letters from Gerontius Productions about the location filming, saying “We are excited to come to the beautiful Saltaire to film and hope that our presence will not be too disruptive and will be itself an attraction to the community.”

The Choral, based on Bennett’s original screenplay, stars Jim Broadbent, Ralph Fiennes and Simon Russell Beale and is directed by Nicholas Hytner, who also produces alongside Kevin Loader and Damian Jones.

Set in Yorkshire in 1916, the film centres on a local choral society whose chorus master and most of the choir have volunteered to fight on the front line. Fiennes plays Dr Guthrie, who recruits a new intake of teenagers, with the boys having to come to terms with their impending war service.

It is backed by Screen Yorkshire, BBC Film and Sony Pictures Classics. Caroline Cooper Charles, Charles Moore, Eva Yates and Paul Grindey executive produce.