RESIDENTS lined the streets late into the night to try and catch a glimpse of Hollywood stars shooting a feature film in Ramsbottom.

A major scene from new film A Monster Calls, which features A-listers Liam Neeson and Sigourney Weaver, was being shot in Bridge Street in the Lancashire town.

The scene involved a car hurrying through Ramsbottom to get to an urgent hospital appointment, but being stopped by the railway crossing at the East Lancashire Railway, where a train is passing through.

On Sunday evening, Bridge street was closed off to motorists and instead filled with curious residents, eager to try and catch sight of the film stars in action.

Among the gathered crowds was Ramsbottom resident Chris Coates.

He said: "We have had a wander around and haven't seen any sign of Liam or Sigourney but it is nice to see everyone out enjoying the atmosphere. It is definitely a good thing for the town to have such a big film being shot here."

Sara Roscoe added: "I have lived in Rammy for six years and there always seems to be something going on here — it would be great to see Liam Neeson."

A Monster Calls is a fantasy film based on the best-selling novel by Patrick Ness which centres on a young boy called Conor who is struggling to cope with the death of his mother and is being bullied at school.

To escape his troubles he ventures into a fantasy world and is visited by a storytelling monster.

Sigourney Weaver, famous for her role as Ellen Ripley in the Alien films, plays Conor's grandmother and Liam Neeson, known for roles in films such as Taken and Schindler's List will feature as the monster who visits Conor, played by youngster Lewis MacDougall.

The film, which will not reach UK cinemas until 2016, is being directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, known for films including The Orphanage.

Earlier this month, scenes for the movie were shot at the top of Rivington Pike and on streets in Horwich.

Prior to shooting in Ramsbottom on Sunday evening, crews used large hoses to spray much of Bridge Street with water to give the effect of a heavy downpour of rain.