Bentley rescued for student film

The Bentley Turbo R was rescued from a breakers yard and towed to Farnham

Students have rescued a 1990s Bentley Turbo R from a vintage breakers yard and turned into the star attraction of their final year graduation film.

The six students from the University for the Creative Arts, which has campuses across Kent and Surrey, had a budget of £4,800.

Production designer Lisa Whetmore said they found the car in Warwick and had to tow it up and down the M40.

She said it cost £822 to hire the car for a week and tow it on the motorway.

'Uncomfortable journey'

"Our Bentley is 20 years old, weighs three tonnes and does not drive so well anymore, chuffing thick clouds of smoke from the exhaust, but it's perfect for our needs," she said.

She added that the car would be used for spare parts when it was returned to the breakers and said: "We are pleased to give it one final spin."

The film, Departure, is about an "uncomfortable" journey to a funeral for a well-to-do eccentric character and is set mainly in the back seat of the car, she added.

Three characters are thrown together for the journey, "people they don't want to be with on a very emotional day", producer Kyle Pedley said.

The students, who are based in Farnham, were helped with their project by a studio manager, Chris Pinnock, who has worked with directors Steven Spielberg, David Lean and Michael Winner.

The film will be shown early next year.