Have-a-go hero tries to stop armed robbery on Dorset shop only to find they are actors making a film

A WOULD-be hero was left red-faced after tackling a group of actors who he believed to be real-life criminals robbing a village shop. Producers of independent horror film “Perran” chose to film action scenes in the quaint village of Winfrith Newburgh in Purbeck, Dorset. In one scene during filming, actors dressed as criminals portray a […]

A WOULD-be hero was left red-faced after tackling a group of actors who he believed to be real-life criminals robbing a village shop.

Producers of independent horror film “Perran” chose to film action scenes in the quaint village of Winfrith Newburgh in Purbeck, Dorset.

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The realistic robbery scenes prompted one good citizen to intervene – completely unaware he was being filmed[/caption]

In one scene during filming, actors dressed as criminals portray a gang robbery, filmed at local shop Winfrtih Village Stores.

But one have-a-go-hero though he would attempt to stop the “raid” after believing the incident unfolding in front of him was real.

As the “gang” fled the shop – chased by an irate shopkeeper with a baseball bat – the local man thought he would intervene and began to chase them away from the shop.

A camera was placed in the back of a getaway car and captured the moment the bystander risked it all to help.

But the camera was not visible to the man, who bravely took it upon himself to help the ambushed shopkeeper.

John Capel – spokesman for the production company Hard Road Films – said: ‘A member of the public attempted to chase the gang after they left the scene.”

However, the producer and director said Hard Road had previously pre-warned police and were granted the suitable permissions to film in the sleep residential area.

As with most location shoots, he had approached all households and residents in the immediate vicinity to inform them of the nature of the shoot.
But John – who starred in BBC hit drama Broadchurch – praised the man’s actions and spoke said the crew were “overwhelmed” by the local community

“Fortunately, the director, Rad Brown, was on hand to reassure the brave man that they were just making a film.’

“It is obviously a very special place to live, in fact we were overwhelmed by the hospitality and co-operation afforded to us by the local community during our stay in the village.

“We would publicly like to extend our thanks to everyone for their patience and sincerely apologise to those that may have been inconvenienced by our arrival.”

Winfrith Village Stores owner, Jonathan Moore said he was delighted to have had the opportunity to “support UK film”.

He added he “had a lot of fun watching the all-too-realistic action take place in our shop.”