FILM crews have been making themselves at home once again among the historic buildings of Westerham.

Squerryes Court, owned by the Warde family in Westerham, has played an important role in a drama documentary, Unfounded Rumours.

PROPS: The omnibus outside Squerryes Court
ON SET: Director Gerald Pecksen, sound man Peter McPherson and actresses Samantha Ellery and Maddy McCudden rehearse at Squerryes

The house, a beautiful 17th century manor used in the BBC's adaptation of Emma, has been home to the Warde family for 275 years.

The period production by Spring Park Film Makers, an amateur film group, is to be entered in the North versus South competition for movie-making clubs in the UK. The theme for 2010 is Now and Then and the southern entries will be judged on November 28.

The story is set in the late 19th century and involves Lieutenant Colonel Warde.

Gerald Pecksen, writer and director of the short film, has recreated the events leading up to the opening of the Westerham railway line, which was closed in the 1960s and is now buried under the M25.

Unfounded Rumours is a joint production between members of Spring Park Film Makers and a number of local amateur dramatic groups including Hayes Players, Chelsfield Players, Farnborough Dramatic Society, St Mark's and Keston Players and the Edenbridge Amateur Dramatic Society.

They also filmed inside The Grasshopper Inn, on the A25.

The club was able to use a vintage horse bus from the Cobham Museum in Surrey.