A SOUTH Lakeland market town was transformed this week as a Hollywood production team descended to film scenes for a star-studded new movie.

Kirkby Lonsdale has been playing host to cast and crew from Universal Pictures as it works on 'The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle'.

Taking the lead role in the live action-animated hybrid is Ironman actor Robert Downey Jr, who discovers that he can talk to animals.

Filming started on Tuesday, continued yesterday and concludes today (Thursday). Prior to that the crew had been hard at work, transforming the town.

The crew, made up of around 350, dressed shop fronts, put up false walls and added old carts and stalls to the town's streets.

Kirkby Lonsdale Town councillor Allan Muirhead said that there had been an 'unbelievable attention to detail'.

"We’ve watched so many people tap the artificial walls which have been painstakingly constructed, to see if they are made of stone - they’re cardboard and plastic - and a market trader has been asked to supply eggs for a chase scene," he said. "But they had to come without the little lion trade mark! So it was a special order, just to have them scattered and broken by a galloping horse."

The scenes filmed in the town were part of an action sequence, where a small boy is chased through the back streets by policemen on horseback. He throws off his pursuers by taking a shortcut through Market Square and escapes along a path at Ruskin’s View.

Cllr Muirhead noted that the filming had been a 'big boost' for the local economy, with the crew renting accommodation and eating and drinking in the area.

Iain Black of the Sun Inn said that they had had up to four crew members staying at the hotel every night and the bar and restaurant had been busy, too.

"I think most business have benefited," he said. "And those that have not will because there will be the aftershock in Kirkby and hopefully we see a nice upturn in visitors."

The owners of the Crossing Point Cafe on Market Square have been involved in the excitement of the film, with their eatery turned into the 'plush and opulent' Cropp & Watson Royal Hatters.

And although the business has had to shut for a few days, owner John Strange said that the film had still been good for business.

"They've been fantastic," he said. "My wife and I have been doing the catering for the crew. They've been fantastic and so considerate of the town and local residents.

"It's all most people are talking about, I think it's very good for the town. Hopefully there's a sequel!

The film is scheduled to be released on April 12 next year.