A HISTORIC Bournemouth building with links to band leader Billy Cotton, screen siren Diana Dors and boxing legend Freddie Mills has been revived as a film studio.

Cinechrome Studios, originally called Cromwell House, was built in 1908 and was used as a Gospel hall.

But at some time in the 1950s, the building in Calvin Road, Winton, it became a place of business and was occupied by band leader Billy Cotton and his son Bill, a future controller of BBC1.

They ran a media company, Cinechrome Ltd, which produced promotional and factual films, some of which featured one of the great sex symbols of the day, Diana Dors. The building was also used as a gym by British boxing legend Freddie Mills.

Now LoveLove Films, which moved into the building in 2013, has restored it with the help of Dorset Growth Hub.

The company has produced television adverts, music videos, animations and web videos in the building, for famous names including the likes of Joss Stone.

Dorset Growth Hub offered support, information, guidance and funding for the development.

Lucy Cooper, Dorset Growth Hub manager, said: “LoveLove Films are a fantastic creative agency, involved in some astounding projects on an international basis. This highlights how booming the creative industry is in Dorset.”

Georgina Hurcombe, MD and producer at Lovelove Films said: “Cinechrome Studios has a really creative vibe and it is fantastic to now see the space refurbished and running as a creative space. It’s great for growing businesses and we can't thank Dorset Growth hub enough for their support.”

Georgina Hurcombe, who founded LoveLove Films, was named Dorset Businesswoman of the Year by at the Dorset Business Awards in 2013 and has worked on a range of award-winning documentaries, short films, animations, adverts and more.