WAR time heroes who daringly raided Nazi occupied France are being honoured in a local filmmaker’s new project.

Tim Reynard, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is to direct a £7,000 short film about the men involved in the St Nazaire Raid in March 1942.

His 45 minute film will tell the story of the attack, known as Operation Chariot, to stop the German battleship the Tirpitz from docking in France.

St Nazaire, Normandy, was the only dock suitable for the fearsome battleship so plans were drawn up to destroy it.

The obsolete British battleship HMS Campbeltown was sailed into the harbour and blown up while the Commandos tried to make it home.

Many British troops were killed in the raid but some, like corporals Wheeler and Sims, made it back to England.

Mr Reynard’s piece takes cpl’s Wheeler and Sims journey through Spain to England as its basis and draws on historical evidence.

Mr Reynard, 19, said: "I have family in St Nazaire and I’m absolutely fascinated by the story.

"I did lots of research on the raid and went to France and I spoke to James Dorrian, a historical expert on the raid.

"We’re filming a lot in St Nazaire and it’s the first time I have filmed abroad and I’m very excited about it.

"We’ve got a huge amount of support from the French and they shutting roads and beach to allow us to film.

"We start filming in three weeks for 11 days with Austin Hardiman and Eddy Usher in the main parts. I hope it honours the men who on the raid."

Mr Reynard is no stranger to filmmaking as in 2008 Oscar nominated director Ken Russell viewed one of his earlier projects.

The film will premiere to the St Nazaire Society, in France, next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the raid and it will be shown at the Odeon cinema, Harrogate, too