A retired taxi driver who drove Harry Styles to and from set while he was filming Dunkirk in Dorset has told how 'friendly and sociable' he was.

The superstar singer was as down to earth as anyone Mandy Fry has driven, she says.

Portland resident Mandy, one of the managers at Weyline Taxis in 2016 when blockbuster movie Dunkirk was being filmed in Dorset, was gobsmacked when she was sent to a hotel to drive cast members to set - and Harry Styles appeared in reception.

The former One Direction member was making his acting debut as a Second World War soldier in the Christopher Nolan-directed film.

Dorset Echo:

Harry on set in Swanage

Mandy drove Harry and others to Swanage for the first two days of filming.

She remembers: "When I was working at Weyline we would sometimes get enquiries to do things for TV companies, I remember driving people for Come Dine With Me.

"Then we had an enquiry from the makers of Dunkirk who wanted eight seater vehicles.

"I was sent to a hotel at 6.30am to pick up cast members and take them to Swanage Railway Station where they were filming. I had no idea who I was picking up.

"I went into the hotel and I saw Eric Richard from The Bill, who asked me if I was Mandy. He then said 'there's two or three others to come.

"Then this big man appeared and then Harry Styles, and I realised the big man was Harry's bodyguard.

"We all got in the car and drove to Swanage, Harry was really chatty. He had a bandage around his hand and I asked him about him injuring his hand.

"When we passed Corfe Castle on the way to Swanage Harry was really interested and was asking me questions about the castle and its history. He wanted to know my name and where I lived, he was really sociable.

Dorset Echo:

Mandy Fry (in the foreground)

"I drove them down to the parking area. Us drivers spent the day there, doing driving jobs during the day, had lunch and evening meal with the cast and returned them to their hotel at midnight. Harry was lovely, he even acknowledged me throughout the day if we saw each other

"I was allowed to have food and drink from the catering area. I just couldn't believe the size of it all and how much choice of food there was, there was a big marquee. It was such a big production."

Dorset Echo:

Harry filming at Weymouth Harbour Picture: Amy Johnson

Mandy also drove Harry Styles to Weymouth harbour, where further filming took place.

"I once drove Harry back to the hotel at midnight," she said. "They did very long days. There was so much that went into it. One time I had to drive to Southampton Airport to pick up some stuntmen from France who weren't even on the plane in the end!

"Another time someone had to drive to London to pick up some keys someone had forgotten or to take some film there."

Dorset Echo:

Harry posing for pictures with fans earlier this year

Mandy says she wasn't too starstruck by the whole experience because she was probably 'too old' to be a Harry Styles fan.

Although she enjoys Harry's music she says she is yet to watch the film Dunkirk and see her young passenger making his acting debut.

"I have it on DVD and I keep meaning to watch it!" she says.