The filming of another Hollywood blockbuster in Lyme Regis has been welcomed - as props start to arrive this week ahead of the main production.
There has been much excitement around the town this week as preparations are underway for the filming of 'Wonka', a brand-new adaptation based on the characters created by children’s author Roald Dahl for the 1964 novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Historic vessel Lydia Eva will be used for the scenes showing a passenger steamer bringing a young Willy Wonka - played by Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet - to England.
The vessel arrived at West Bay last week and sailed over to Lyme Regis harbour on Monday. Built in 1930 and now restored as a floating museum based in Great Yarmouth, it is the world’s last surviving steam-powered herring drifter.
Lydia Eva at Lyme Regis Picture: Daryl Turner
Dorset Council Cllr Daryl Turner said: "It's really good news, any free advertising on the level of Hollywood movies is fantastic for the town. It displays the qualities of the town to a huge audience.
"It's very exciting, I don't believe filming is starting until next month but props have been arriving and I'm sure more will be arriving in the coming weeks.
"We certainly don't have to advertise Lyme Regis anymore, with all the attention it gets now the advertising gets done for us these days."
Filming will reportedly take place over two days in mid-October. In addition to Lydia Eva, a classic Bedford truck has also arrived on the Cobb ahead of filming.
The mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Brian Larcombe, says any Hollywood film is 'more than welcome' in Lyme Regis due to the positive exposure it brings to the town.
Cllr Larcombe said: "It's great to have yet another big film event in Lyme after all those we've already had - another one in a long line of Hollywood film studios coming to Lyme.
"Any filming of this sort is more than welcome and gives the town some fantastic promotion.
"My view is that these sort of things give the exposure to the town which keeps us on the map. We no longer have to spend a lot of money advertising which has saved us tens of thousands of pounds a year. This exposure is almost free advertising to Lyme.
"We've not been told a great deal about it, but we didn't hear a lot about Ammonite until it got underway."
He added: "It's coming to the end of the summer season so hopefully it shouldn't be as disruptive as it might be. They seem to only be filming around the Cobb so it shouldn't disrupt the town much."
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