STARS of the screen were at Bradford's Cannon Mills complex this week as filming for The Duke got underway. 

Both Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent have been spotted around the city - which hopefully means there'll be plenty of opportunity to location spot when the film comes out.

City Hall, Little Germany and Upper Piccadilly and Cartwright Hall have all been taken back in time for the film, as well as Cannon Mills. 

These photographs show some of the set and it's understood both stars were on location throughout the week. 

Ann Hullah, who is PA to the owner Sharif Tariq, said they hadn't had a chance to meet the pair, but it was an exciting time nonetheless.

"It's a privilege and honour to be asked," she said.

"It was all really professionally set up. It has been exciting."

She said the boat in the picture has been driven down from Glasgow. 

The complex, with its many cobbled streets, has featured in two other films - Lies We Tell and BBC film White Girl.

"It's very exciting," said Mr Tariq.

"White Girl was done 90 per cent in Cannon Mills. It's empty, it's got a lot of character and there's a lot of space because it's not used seven days a week, so they can film at their leisure."

The pair are looking forward to the release of the film to see if they can spot any familiar sites. 

The Duke is set in 1961, following Kempton Bunton, a 60-year-old taxi driver, who stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.  It was the first (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery’s history. 

Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly - he had long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television.

But only 50 years later did the full story emerge - Kempton had spun a web of lies. 

The film is directed by BAFTA award winner Roger Michell (My Cousin Rachel, Notting Hill).