Hollywood stars including Christina Ricci and John Hurt have been in the North York Moors this week filming a movie drama.

The film, which is provisionally being called Miranda, is being made for Film Four - Channel 4's spin-off film company.

No details have been released as to where filming is taking place, but it is thought the production crew has been working on the North York Moors and in Scarborough.

Film-makers are remaining tight-lipped about the location of the filming, but they insisted that they have avoided places which were out-of-bounds due to the foot and mouth crisis.

Last year Ryedale was the location for filming of the forthcoming Harry Potter film.

The latest production features Christina Ricci, who starred as Wednesday in The Addams Family and Mermaids, and John Hurt, best known for his portrayal of the Elephant Man. A spokesman for Film Four said Miranda was the story of a young girl whose appearance in the life of a daydreaming librarian, Frank - played by The Lakes actor John Simm - propels him into a chaotic world where nothing is what it seems.

"From the safe world of his Yorkshire library information desk Frank finds himself in a world of confidence tricksters and sadistic villains," said the spokesman. "He discovers that Miranda has four identities."

Twin Peaks star Kyle McLachlan is Nailor, a million-dollar businessman whose weird fantasies are fuelled by Miranda."

The spokesman said that filming in North Yorkshire was due to end today.

David Brewster, from the North York Moors National Park, said though he was not aware filming was taking place, film crews rarely need the park's permission.

Updated: 12:11 Thursday, March 22, 2001