OSCAR winner Julian Fellowes was the guest of honour at a premiere of a different kind at a village hall in west Dorset.

The writer, director, actor and peer officially opened the new cinema at Powerstock Hut when it showed its first movie – his family film Time After Time.

Lord Fellowes, who lives at West Stafford, near Dorchester, was the guest of honour when more than 80 villagers packed the hall for the Powerstock Cinema opening.

He said: “I love these events.

“It is so thrilling that cinema is going around the county and country. It can be a slog going to the cinema but this means films are coming to you.

“You can watch everything on DVD but it is not the same as seeing films on the big screen.”

Lord Fellowes unveiled a plaque, introduced his film and also took questions from the audience before the film started.

He praised the cast of From Time to Time, which was filmed at Athelhampton House and starred Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Dominic West and Timothy Spall.

He said: “It is very flattering that they have chosen From Time to Time as their first film.”

“It is helped by having a fantastic cast. They really lifted it and took it to another level.”

He added: “Then of course we all went on to Downton Abbey.”

Lord Fellowes revealed that he is finishing writing the final two episodes of the second series of Downton Abbey as well as a two-hour Christmas special.

Powerstock Cinema scooped £3,500 from the National Lottery for its equipment as well as £1,000 from West Dorset District Council towards comfortable seats.

Adrian Semmence, from the village hall committee and cinema sub-committee, said: “We are delighted to have Lord Fellowes here. We wanted to show his film as it had a local connection.”

Nancy Seward, of Powerstock, was with sons Edward, nine, and Harry, 11.

Edward said: “I was really excited about coming.”

Harry added: “It’s really impressive that Lord Fellowes has come along.”

Films will show on the first Thursday of every month and include Made in Dagenham on June 2 followed by True Grit on July 7 and Tangled on August 4.