Crowds flocked to the Astoria Reel Cinema for the premiere of Chippenham-based film Bash Street.

The movie, starring 100 local people and organisations, as well as stage and screen actors Con O’ Neill and Jan Graveson, was shown to more than 150 guests at an exclusive red carpet event on Saturday night.

Director Ed Deedigan, who runs Kandu Arts, the organisation behind the project, admitted he was overwhelmed and buzzing from the response the film had received.

The former Sheldon School student, who returned from London to live in Chippenham in 1997 to concentrate on Kandu Arts, said: “It surpassed my wildest dreams.

“It was really good and people have already started booking tickets to see the film. I got a text from someone who was in the film and they said it all really.

“He said that it allowed him to see that he was worth something and could do things. Even when life wasn’t going well he is capable of doing things and there was more to come from him and that it was all thanks to Kandu Arts.

“That’s exactly what it is all about.”

Kandu Arts is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting social and ecological development within the community.

Among the star names involved in the Bash Street project is former Spice Girl Mel C, who wrote a theme song for the low-budget production.

Mr Deedigan, a former London drama student, who studied alongside the likes of Damon Albarn of the band Blur, met Mel C at a party more than ten years ago. She agreed to sing a song for the film, which she recorded at Kandu Arts’ offices in Foghamshire.

The film, which was put together over five years on a budget of just £7,000, inter-relates a number of real-life experiences of crime, growing up and relationships.

It was filmed around the town, including at Karma nightclub, Revolutions restaurant and The Audley Arms.

It also features many up-and-coming stars from North Wiltshire Young People’s Theatre Group.

Bash Street was funded by the Regional Investment Fund for England through the UK Film Council and South West Screen.

Showings of the film began yesterday at 10.30pm at Reel Cinema and will run for a week. An additional showing has been organised for 6pm on Saturday. Tickets cost £5.

Actress Jan Graveson, who played the role of Jan, a victim of domestic violence, said: “I thought the film was fantastic; I hadn’t seen the final cut until Saturday.”