THE STUNNING Dorset scenery starred as the county hosted a special gala screening of the Far From the Madding Crowd film.

Local people who featured as extras in the film and those who helped the crew shoot in Dorset were given the red carpet treatment at the county's premiere at the Electric Palace in Bridport.

The screening came just two days after the film's world premiere in London and was only the second major screening of the adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel.

The film's producers paid tribute to the role Dorset and its community played in the film, which was shot in the county during the summer of 2013 and stars Carey Mulligan, Matthew Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen and Tom Sturridge.

Andrew Macdonald said: "We can be a bit disruptive making a film but you let us into your community and without you and your commitment and your patience the film wouldn't be what it is.

"We wanted to have this screening to thank everybody.

"Dorset is the star of this film as along with Carey and the other actors."

The film is released nationwide on May 1 and fellow producer Allon Reich said it was great to return to Dorset for the special premiere screening.

He said: "It's fantastic to be back here and the cinema looks beautiful."

Filming took place in several locations around Dorset with Mapperton House near Beaminster converted into a working 19th century farmhouse, while scenes were also shot around Sherborne and along the Jurassic Coast.

Cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen said the county's special landscape meant it was as much character in the film as any of Hardy's creations.

She said: "We worked with the scenery as a character in its own right as much as Bathsheba or Gabriel Oak."

Lord Fellowes of West Stafford addressed the audience before the screening and said how much he had been looking forward to seeing it.

He also had special words of praise for the film's start Carey Mulligan, who plays Bathsheba Everdene.

Lord Fellowes said: "She has a quite unique and extraordinary quality."

Among the local people to feature in the film were Alex Channon, 22, from Dorchester, and Rosie Masson, 17, from Weymouth, who featured as sisters Soberness and Temperance after going along to one of the casting events.

Alex admitted said filming had been a great experience and they were looking forward to seeing the film for the first time.

She added: "I'm quite nervous."

Jamie Lee-Hill, from Bournemouth, features as Laban Tall in the film and said it was great that the film was shot locally.

He said: "It's fantastic that it was filmed in the real location because I think the Dorset country setting is as big a key feature as any of the people in Hardy's book."

Penny-Jane Swift from Gillingham, who plays Mrs Coggan, said it had been an 'amazing' experience to work with the main actors.