The beauty of Bradford on Avon will feature on the silver screen from today when Charles Darwin film Creation, which was filmed in the town, goes on general release.

Paul Bettany, who appeared in Holywood epic The Da Vinci Code, Wimbeldon and Knight’s Tale, joked about his costume, brown contact lenses and balding hairstyle, when he visited the west Wiltshire town to film scenes for the new movie in November.

Over three days, Church Street and Newtown were transformed for the production of Creation, a film about the life of Charles Darwin (played by Bettany), also starring Bettany’s wife, Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Connelly, as Mrs Darwin.

The movie, directed by Jon Amiel, is due for release today (Friday).

Ritka Carr, whose front of the house was transformed for the filming, said: “It was absolutely brilliant. The crews were so wonderful and were a joy to have around.

“They fitted in with the town wonderfully. What was difficult for Bradford was slipping back in to the modern age; we really got in to the swing of it.

“The detail was amazing and I never realised how much of acting was hanging around.”

Mrs Carr is also chairman of the Arts Festival in Bradford on Avon, which got under way on Friday, and a special screening of the film was held on Monday, in advance of its official release.

She said: “We decided to include a showing of the film in the Arts Festival because the festival is all about the community and the community’s reaction to the film crews was to take them in with open arms and we are very proud of that.

“The difficulty was not going back in time for the filming; it was having to go back again.”

Debbie Stupples, of the tourist information centre, said: “As the producers said, it would be lovely if more film crews were able to use the town because it does add to the income of the local economy.

“It does bring tourists into the town, just like Lacock. We are the centre point of so many attractions, and film locations are no exception.”