PUPILS from a Dorset school have created a feature length period film, shot on location around the county.

Far From the Madding Crowd based on Thomas Hardy’s novel is the result of eight months work by a cast of 140 pupils from The Gryphon School in Sherborne.

The remarkably professional-looking production was filmed at some of the most scenic spots in the Wessex region Hardy loved, including Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove.

The all-student cast, aged from 11 to 18, are decked out in full period costume, and appear alongside farm animals and even on horseback as part of the elaborate production.

Yet incredibly it was all done on a shoestring, with everything from props to locations being begged or borrowed by those involved.

The film is the brainchild of head of drama Rosita Clarke, who was inspired to take on the challenge after a successful experiment with film in a production of Sweeney Todd at the school in 2008.

She admitted even then she had “absolutely no concept of the enormity of the task”, which involved up to two shoots a week, all in the students’ free time But Ms Clarke said she was spurred on by the “freshness and excitement” brought by the children.

She said: “I am working with the most incredibly talented bunch of youngsters. Their enthusiasm, their excitement, their willingness to take on a role in a big project like this just completely shone through.”

She added: “I don’t believe it’s been done before so I felt that this was going to be something really special.”

The film premieres on Saturday, July 4 and will run for a week at the school and before going on distribution to various venues throughout Dorset. It will also be released on DVD.