A HAMPSHIRE airfield has played an important role in the shooting of a major new war film starring Tom Hardy and One Direction singer Harry Styles.

Several aerial scenes for the film Dunkirk, released today, were filmed at HMS Daedalus at Lee-on-Solent.

The film follows the tale of the evacuation of Allied soldiers in from the beaches of France during 1940.

Scenes featuring genuine Second World War Spitfires and Messerschmitts were filmed by helicopters over the Solent airfield, a former naval airbase.

The film, written and directed by Christopher Nolan, is a co-production between the Netherlands, the UK, France, and the United States.

Nolan wrote the story with the intention to tell it from three perspectives – the air, land and sea.

Hardy plays an RAF pilot and Styles is one of the infantry awaiting rescue on the beaches.

In May 1940, Germany advanced into France, trapping Allied troops at Dunkirk.

Thanks to Operation Dynamo 330,000 French, British, Belgian and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated from the beaches with the aid of an armada of “little ships”.

Scenes were also filmed on the railway at Swanage and the quay at Weymouth.

Meanwhile the Hampshire coast is becoming a mecca for movie makers.

Filmgoers who flocked to see the latest instalment of Transformers may have spotted a familiar naval attraction in Gosport.

The Cold War submarine HMS Alliance in Gosport was used as a location in the Michael Bay film, released two weeks ago.

Hollywood A-listers Sir Anthony Hopkins and Mark Wahlberg visited the submarine museum last year to film the fifth instalment in the blockbuster sci-fi franchise.

Supercars Hot Rod and Bumblebee also made an appearance as they sped up to the submarine,

Meanwhile Fawley Power Station has been used as a location for a port sequence in the new Star Wars spin-off, with the working title Red Cup, which follows the exploits of a young Han Solo.

Councillor Stephen Philpott, chairman of the Economic Board on Gosport Borough Council said: “I was delighted and pleased that the town is being showcased for visitors who want to come and visit the town to come and see it.”

Councillor Sean Woodward, the leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: “HMS Daedalus is a fantastic filming location and puts us in a strong position.

“There is no other Hampshire council in Southern England that can offer this kind of facility and we welcome any future proposals that can help to boast Solent Airport and Fareham.