Filming starts in Glasgow for Brad Pitt zombie movie

Parts of Glasgow are being turned into war-torn ruins for the next two weeks as filming for a new Hollywood blockbuster gets under way.

World War Z is a post-apocalyptic zombie movie starring Brad Pitt.

A cast and crew of about 1,200 people will be involved in shooting scenes in George Square and other city centre locations.

An open casting was held last month to recruit local people to star as zombie extras.

Although shot in Glasgow, the film is set in Philadelphia, so false shop fronts will be brought in and American cars will take to the city's streets.

Glasgow City Council said the positive impact of the production on the local economy is likely to be in excess of £2m.

Glasgow Film Office has been working with the production over the past few months to help secure locations in the city and co-ordinating arrangements with council departments and other public bodies to ensure minimal impact on normal business and access.

A number of roads in the city centre will be closed to traffic, with full details on the council's website, and there will be restricted pedestrian access.

The location manager for World War Z said Glasgow had been chosen because of its architecture, wide roads and grid layout.

Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "We are ready to welcome the World War Z production to Glasgow.

"There is great anticipation in the city ahead of such a huge film coming here."

The film is based on Max Brooks' 2006 novel World War Z: An Oral History Of The Zombie War, which is set in the aftermath of a war between humans and zombies.

Some filming for the Paramount Pictures movie has already taken place in Valletta in Malta and in Falmouth in Cornwall.

It is due to be released next year.