YORK welcomed a team of filmmakers yesterday but it was less "hooray for Hollywood", more "Eh up."

While a director, actors and a stuffed cat sweated to create celluloid magic under an LA-style sun, a genial crowd of drinkers from the Kings Arms watched with semi-detached interest.

Most Tinseltown sets are lubricated by hot, black coffee and mineral water, rather than pints of Sam Smith's. But the movie moguls declared themselves delighted by their low-key York welcome.

Maybe this is the start of something. York is tailor-made for the big screen. Today, Garfield 2; tomorrow A Footstreet Named Desire.

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, September 01, 2005