Why are film-makers coming to Coventry?

Sixties film The Italian Job filmed in Coventry's sewers

Coventry's location, varied backdrops and "fantastic links" with some film producers and agencies are among reasons why the city has become a popular location for filming, the council says.

In TV drama This Town, a band uses the cathedral to test their sound, while another BBC programme to film in Coventry in recent times is Phoenix Rise, at Pool Meadow.

The number of productions in the city had grown in the past three years, Coventry City Council said.

Its head of events, Jon Hogan, suggested that was partly due to its "proximity to Birmingham and London as well as major studios.

However, he said its varied landscape also played a part.

He added: "[With] that combination, you can do a lot of different things in a short space."

Coventry Cathedral has been used for BBC drama This Town and the film Nativity!

The cathedral was centre-stage in the climax of the film Nativity! and the White Street parking area was transformed into a secluded setting for BBC espionage drama Spooks.

Previously, there was filming in Stoke Aldermoor for a Mini car chase scene in the 1969 movie The Italian Job.

Meanwhile, Binley Woods, nearby in Warwickshire, hosted BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, starring Patricia Routledge as Hyacinth Bucket.

Coventry had "lots of different unique spaces," but also locations that were "generic, so it could be anywhere," Mr Hogan said.

A former Ikea building has been used by Sky Blue Studios

He added the city had had "a lot of fantastic use" from the former Ikea store on Croft Road.

The building is being turned into the Cultural Gateway arts venue and hub, but before that has also served as a studio space.

Mr Hogan said links with Film West Midlands had also helped, as the organisation was often the first to be approached by film-makers hunting for shooting locations.

He added the local authority departments worked well together to ensure decisions were made quickly - for example whether to close roads for filming.

Because production companies were often looking for consistency of shots, Mr Hogan said he was always on the lookout for other similar set-ups, whether it was new building sites or the latest roadworks.