VINTAGE footage of Hatherleigh's famous tar barrels will be screened for free, thanks to a unique historical project visiting the town next month.

The film, 'Sootbombs and Blazing Barrels', is drawn from the vaults of the South West Film and TV Archive and shows historic images of Hatherleigh's flaming tar barrels from the 1960s.

The film will be screened inside a unique 1967 mobile cinema bus, the only vehicle left from seven built for the government in the 1960s.

The vehicle has been lovingly restored to its original condition, but with a few modern innovations, including surround sound and high definition projection to make the most of the newly digitised films.

The screenings will be free of charge to the public, thanks to funding from South West Screen, the UK Film Council, the North Devon AONB's Sustainable Development Fund, the Museum, Libraries and Archives Partnership, and the North Devon Festival.

Emma Giffard, movie bus co-ordinator, said: 'The movie bus project has been a runaway success. The unique nature of the vehicle and the fantastic films we have had on offer have drawn in the type of crowds you might expect to see at the premiere of a major blockbuster, not just a local archive film.'

DVDs of the films on show in the movie bus will be released in March, but for those wanting a truly unique experience, the movie bus will be in Hatherleigh between 5pm and 8pm on Thursday March 10. Screenings start every 30 minutes, on the hour and half hour.

Further information on the project is available at http://www.moviebus.org.uk">www.moviebus.org.uk