St Neots Chitty Chitty Bang Bang replica set to fly across stage

The St Neots amateur dramatics group plans to use the replica in its upcoming stage play

A Chitty Chitty Bang Bang replica is expected to soar across the stage after more than 900 hours of work.

VAMPS of St Neots, an amateur dramatics group in the town, recreated the flying vintage car from the famous 1968 film for a stage play.

The film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang sees an inventor, his two children, and an heiress travel in the flying car.

The Cambridgeshire group's chairwoman said the flying car would be the "star of the show".

The original car was seen in cinemas in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang follows Caractacus Potts, an inventor, take his children and Truly Scrumptious, a wealthy heiress, to a faraway land to rescue their grandfather.

VAMPS of St Neots, which has been running since 1961, wanted to perform the story on the stage but needed a replica of the story's vintage car.

Emma Driscoll, the group's chairwoman, added it was "fairly expensive" to hire a replica, but its tech crew, 1One0, agreed to make its own.

Actors Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes starred in the 1968 film

"She's (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) taken about 400 hours of computer modelling time [to make] and then about 500 man-hours of manufacturing time and that number is climbing," Ms Driscoll said.

"We could work with our restrictions for our stage and make sure that she fits us, so she's perfect for the theatre."

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Construction of its replica started in February and was designed with its flight capacity in mind, weighing about 55 stone (350kg) and was made of aluminium, timber, steel and fabric.

The car can hold two adults and two children, Ms Driscoll said.

"The reaction has been amazing, which is wonderful for the boys at 1One0 because this is probably one of their biggest projects they've taken on and they've worked so incredibly hard."

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang performed by VAMPS of St Neots is due to open at the town's Priory Centre on 9 November.