A new name hangs above an old pub in a County Durham pit village which has become a hub of activity this week after being closed for several years.
But that newly-unveiled name - The Old Oak - has a run-down appearance and this fresh lease of life is to be a temporary one because, rather than a sign of a reopening, this is the setting for the new Ken Loach film and the old boozer - real name The Victoria - in Church Street, Murton, is at the heart of the story.
Work on the film, also called The Old Oak, follows on from the huge success of the award-winning director's two previous North East-set films - Bafta winner I, Daniel Blake, his first in Newcastle, and Sorry We Missed You - and it seems set to strike a similarly powerful emotional chord with viewers. Filming started this week and on Wednesday The Chronicle was invited along for a first look behind the scenes.
