MOVIE star Gary Oldman's new role as Sir Winston Churchill brought him to Bicester as he filmed scenes for his new film Darkest Hour.

Oldman takes on the character of the Oxfordshire-born wartime leader, with Kristin Scott Thomas as his wife Clementine.

Directed by Joe Wright, the Universal Pictures movie, out next month, focuses on Churchill becoming Prime Minister during the Second World War in 1940.

Now it has emerged that motoring hub Bicester Heritage has once again been sought out as a location for scenes in a high-profile blockbuster.

The former Second World War RAF bomber training station has already provided the backdrop for scenes in The Imitation Game, the 2014 film starring Benedict Cumberbatch as codebreaker Alan Turing.

Adam Richards, supervising location Manager for Darkest Hour, said: "Filming at Bicester Heritage was a joy from beginning to end and all the staff were incredibly helpful and pro-active to the ever-demanding needs of a film crew.

I am looking forward to returning soon on another project."

Mr White added that the attraction was 'in demand' as a film location.

He said: " "From blockbusters such as The Imitation Game and Darkest Hour to advertisements and documentaries, the UK’s best preserved WW2 RAF Bomber Station continues to be a desirable period back drop for big and little screens.

"Bicester Heritage is a location unlike any other and is truly packed with tangible history, which makes it perfect for period film use."

Philip White, business development manager at the visitor attraction, said: "The Darkest Hour crew spent 10 days at Bicester Heritage in October 2016, both in one of the enormous 1936 C Type hangars and on the perimeter of the vast grass airfield - the latter peppered with bomb crates, burnt-out military vehicles and crowds of homeless casualties of war.

"Gary Oldman was here, dedicating most of his time to the hours of make-up preparation required to make him in to the hero of the hour, Winston Churchill.

"The cast included over 100 extras, mostly locals and one of them was Launton-based Danielle Revill, who had never previously been on site. She has since found herself a permanent position in the Bicester Heritage administrative team."

Founded in 2013, Bicester Heritage is now home to over 30 specialist businesses, and is growing, with a collective turnover of over £20m.

The collection of businesses based the 348-acre site promote skills, expertise and employment.

Sunday Scrambles are popular visitor events and the next one takes place on January 7.

Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock and died aged 90 in 1965. He is buried at St Martin's Church, Bladon.