A SHOP in Welshpool has provided 1940s costumes that were worn by the stars of a new British Film about to be released in a few days’ time.

‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’ is a story based on the Channel Islands in World War Two during the Nazi occupation.

Directed by Mike Newell, starring Michiel Huisman and Lily James, the film is based on a book by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows

The book centres on members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Review, which was the name for the secret society there of people who braved the blackout.

Diane Ashman, who runs Ashman’s Antiques and Old Lace on Welshpool High Street, sourced the 1940s costumes worn by the stars.

Diane said: “I’ve been doing clothes for films for about 27 years now, since coming to Welshpool.

“I sell the clothes, the designer came to buy the clothes just over a year ago in February 2017.

“It took about a year to shoot and produce the film.

“I’ve already got tickets to see it for when it comes to Shrewsbury.”

Amongst many films and Television period drama’s that Diane has been involved with are, ‘Easy Virtue’ that starred Colin Firth and ‘Birdsong’ that was based on Sebastian Faulks’ fantastic World War One novel.

Diane said that her interest in clothes started when she was just nine years old: “I was cleaning people’s forecourts for threepence, going shopping for old people for three or six pence and saving up – then going to a jumble sale and finding the clothes.”

“I’ve been a singer and a model, but it’s all to do with costumes.”

And there also seems to be the hand of fate, that Diane would be involved in the film.

“I have a customer who comes here every year all the way from Guernsey with something lovely for me to buy.”

“When she got home, she sent me the book.

“She thought I’d be interested in this book as it was set in wartime and sent it to me.”

“She didn’t know what I was working on.

“Then I was told the name of the films and lo and behold it is the same as the book.

“Isn’t that weird!”

The film is set to be premiered across the country from May 4.