Last updated at 15:56, Friday, 07 December 2012

Popular Lake District tourist spots will hit the big screen today in a dark new comedy film.

LAKES BACKDROP: A scene from new film Sightseers at Castlerigg Stone Circle, near Keswick

Sightseers, which opens in cinemas today, follows a couple on a road trip across the north of England.

The Lakes becomes the backdrop for a series of dark encounters.

The Cumberland Pencil Museum in Keswick, Castlerigg Stone Circle and Honister Pass all feature.

The movie has been directed by Ben Wheatley and was screened to widespread acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival.

Co-writer and star Steve Oram said: “There are very few films that celebrate these tourist locations and we hoped they’d be quite evocative.

“Some of the places were insanely dramatic and beautiful.

“Why go abroad when you’ve got the whole of the UK at your fingertips?”

Ian Stephens, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said: “Films of this quality only serve to enhance Cumbria’s reputation.”

First published at 14:33, Friday, 07 December 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk