Last updated at 15:10, Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Businesses around Carlisle’s Citadel Railway Station have enjoyed a bumper start to the year thanks to the filming of a new advert.

The station is transformed

A new ad for Homebase, the DIY chain, featured the station as a backdrop.

Carlisle Tourism Partnership said the 21-day shoot generated 1,200 ‘room nights’ for the city as the 70-strong production crew set up in town.

Marie Whitehead, of the partnership, said: “We’re delighted Carlisle won this project because as the figures now show it has clearly benefited a wide range of businesses across the whole city.

“It’s a really good example of what we can achieve for Carlisle by working together for the good of the city.”

Film crews spent five days shooting the ad, which went out for the first time at 6.30pm on Saturday on Channel 4.

They used 1,800 litres of paint, 1,500sq m of flooring and 135 seats from sofas to stools and garden furniture.

The advert centres around ‘Mary’ – the owner of a train station cafe who dreams of having better surroundings.

The idea was to show people doing up the station – using Homebase products – as they would do up their own home.

First published at 11:26, Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk