HOLLYWOOD stars have been flying the flag for the Black Country as they film their new post-apocalyptic blockbuster in the town.

Glenn Close, Gemma Arterton and Paddy Considine have been shooting the zombie thriller She Who Brings Gifts at various locations across the West Midlands over the last couple of weeks, including Dudley and Halesowen.

The film's plot follows a scientist and a teacher on a journey of survival in a dystopia, where the human race faces extermination.

Most of humanity has been wiped out by a fungal infection, and the infected, who are referred to as ‘hungries’, lose their mental powers and feed on the flesh of healthy humans.

Scenes were shot in Dudley's old Guest Hospital, Tipton Road, on Sunday (June 7) and around 60 local people got the chance to be in on the action.

Steve Edwards, chairman of the Black Country Festival was one of those lucky enough to bag extra work and was transformed into a zombie for the day.

But appearing on the silver screen was not his aim; Mr Edwards just wanted to get close enough to the A-listers to get a snap of them holding the Black Country flag.

He said: "Their trailer was next to where we were so I walked down and gave them the flag and told them all about the history of the Black Country.

"They were really interested; Glenn Close in particular was fascinated."

The 31-year-old said he was more than happy to oblige when the Fatal Attraction star asked him if she could keep the flag and revealed the celebrities were planning a trip to the Black Country Living Museum.

Mr Edwards, from Brierley Hill, said he thought it was "fantastic" that the Black Country was being used as a location for the film, which is due for release next year.