A WIRRAL village was transported back to the early 20th century as big name stars including Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy filmed for a forthcoming television gangster series.

While the show is set in 1920s Birmingham, the latest scenes of BBC drama Peaky Blinders were being shot on the streets of Port Sunlight yesterday, Monday.

Camera crews, a horse and cart and vintage car arrived on set as filming began late yesterday afternoon and went on into the night.

Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy - best known for his roles in Inception and The Dark Knight Rises, in which he starred alongside Murphy – were also joined by actress Helen McRory

Local road closures and diversions were in place to allow filming to take place, while residents were allowed near to the set, as long as they were quiet and did not obstruct the crew or equipment.

Wirral resident Andy McLannahan caught some of filming as he made his way home from school.

Wirral Globe: Cillian Murphy (centre) stars with Sam Neill in Peaky Blinders, being filmed in the Bradford District
Cillian Murphy, centre, was in Port Sunlight filming for the latest series of Peaky Blinders.

He told the Globe: “It was great watching some of the filming, seeing a local village transformed into 20th century Birmingham, with authentic vehicles and extras in period clothing walking past on the street.

“Port Sunlight and Wirral in general is becoming more and more popular as a production location, which is good to see.

“I can’t wait to see the final edit broadcast in the Autumn – it should make very interesting viewing.”

Filming has also taken place in Liverpool and the West Midlands.

Camera crews also visited New Brighton last week as they filmed scenes for an ITV drama about the life and career of ‘60s icon Cilla Black

The cameras rolled on the beach near Fort Perch Rock on Friday morning filming “Cilla”, which stars Two Pints of Lager and A Packet Of Crisps star Sheridan Smith, who plays the Liverpool-born pop-star-turned TV presenter in a three-part drama.

Filming also took place on the steps of Wallasey Town Hall overlooking the River Mersey.