BLACKBURN is set to hit the silver screen in a new action film slated for release later this month.

Parts of the town were transformed into 1970s Belfast last year during the shooting of the multi-million pound feature film on the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’.

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Bank Top and Stansfeld Street, in Blackburn, were used as locations in May, 2013, as well as parts of Sheffield and Liverpool.

The film, ‘71’, tells the story of young British soldier Gary Hook, portrayed by Skins star Jack O’Connell, who is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot in the city.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Unable to tell friend from foe, and wary of his comrades, the raw recruit must survive the night alone and find his way to safety through a disorientating, alien and deadly landscape.

Set in 1971, the trailer hit cinema screens recently ahead of the UK-wide release on Friday, October 10.

For two weeks last year, the streets were sealed off as a 65-strong crew filmed the nail-biting thriller.

During the shoot, seven local children, aged between two and 11, were enlisted by the crew as extras.

Backed by firms including Studio Canal UK and Film Four, the film is directed by Yann Demange, responsible for the BBC’s acclaimed ‘Criminal Justice’ series and Channel Four’s ‘Top Boy’.

Scenes filmed in Blackburn include one in which the army arrive in a Republican neighbourhood to search for a group of political dissidents.

Another was shot as the streets turned violent when a full scale riot broke out as the community come together in opposition to the troops.

The film crew had just a few weeks to make the fronts of the houses look like 1970s Belfast by using plastic coverings, replacing signs and windows.

Borough arts boss Coun Damian Talbot said: “I will certainly be interested to see parts of the areas on the big screen.

“I think that there will be a lot of local interest in the film, especially from those who were extras in it.

“It would be good if other film producers choose to shoot some of their future projects in Blackburn.”