TINSTLETOWN came to the Cotswolds this week when a Hollywood film crew descended on Arlington Row in Bibury to shoot a new movie.

Residents and shopkeepers were allowed to walk around the set for Stardust - due out next year - a fantasy set in a magical land.

Arlington Row was chosen because of its beautiful setting in the Cotswolds after large parts of the movie were filmed in Scotland.

Security guards and the police were on hand throughout the day as the large film crew battled the rainy weather to get the set ready in time.

The film stars Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer - but unfortunately for star spotters they did not feature in the Arlington Row scenes.

However, up-and-coming star and the lead in the film Charlie Cox was due on set, although the spectators seemed more interested in watching the crew at work.

Diane Breen, who owns a local gallery, said: "It has been very well managed and the set looks absolutely fantastic.

"They started setting up on Thursday and Friday last week and they have put in an amazing amount of work.

"They have been putting artefacts on the Row to disguise the Tarmac. There is also a fake door that slots in front of one of the National Trust doors, which makes it look even older. It is amazing to watch."

Milk churns, sacks of grain and old-fashioned ladders replaced TV aerials, signs and modern guttering.

Peter Maddox, 73, lives a stone's throw from the Row and enjoyed seeing the set take shape.

He said: "They have been here for two days - it's really amazing to see how much work they have to do for just a few minutes screen time."

Six-year-old Keira Johnson was also on set watching the crew working throughout the afternoon.

The Chesterton Primary School pupil got off school early to experience what goes into making a film.

She said: "It's been exciting and I'm looking forward to going back to school to tell my friends I was on a film set. I'm also waiting for the snow."

The crew planned to cover Arlington Row with snow late in the evening before the cameras rolled. Filming went on until the early hours of the morning on Tuesday.

A huge crane carrying a light the size of a small car provided the lighting, and a caf was provided for the scores of people on set.

Arlington Row is a world-famous terrace of cottages originally built as a sheep-house in the 14th century.

It was converted in the 1600s to provide cottages for weavers who supplied cloth to the nearby Arlington Mill. But residents say they believe it is the first time the National Trust homes have been used as a setting for a Hollywood movie.