WANNABE film stars queued in their hundreds for a chance to be on the big screen.

Casting for a new film adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd came to Bridport – and so did plenty of hopefuls.

The film is being shot in the West Dorset area this autumn and producers are looking for locals who look like they could have stepped straight from the 1800s to take part as extras.

Professionals, amateurs and people who had just walked by and decided to have a go lined the street to await their turn in front of the camera.

It was old hat for Aidan Starck, aged 18 and Shannon Tracey, aged 17, who are both hoping to make it as professional actors.

Shannon, from Weymouth, said: “We go to a lot of castings. We decided to come and give this a go as it’s on the doorstep and usually we’re travelling back and forth to London.”

Aidan, a student at Weymouth College, recently got down to the last two for a part in E4 drama Youngers.

Mark Rainbow only came along to support his daughter but decided to have a go himself.

Daughter Fenne said: “To have something like this come to West Dorset is really exciting.”

Dorchester Town Football Club mascot Matthew Dale, pictured above, was hoping his natural hair would be just what the producers are looking for.

He said: “It would be great to have the chance to star in a blockbuster.”

The crew were expecting to see somewhere between 200 and 400 hundred people through the doors but could need up to 1,000.

Assistant director Guy Campbell appealed for any real-life farmers to give it a shot.

He said: “We want it to look like real farming from the 1840s, so men with beards and real farmers.”

Hopefuls registered their details, had measurements taken and a photo for the team to look through.

Mr Campbell said: “Today’s just about finding out how many local people are interested, getting their details and checking their availability.

“It may be that people get a call back from the end of this month through to September, or it may be that they get a call later on as we find we need them because they might fit a certain type.”