EXCITEMENT is growing in a West Oxfordshire village after filming was completed for the Downton Abbey movie.

The TV series was partly filmed in Bampton and fans of the series often pay a visit.

The series, written by Julian Fellowes, finished in 2015.

But a movie has now been made and it is expected to be shown later this year.

Film crews moved into the village near Witney in September, as it is the setting for many of the show’s outdoor scenes.

A sign reading Downton Cottage Hospital was pictured on the wall of the village’s Old Grammar School.

Other notable locations include St Mary the Virgin Church and the village library.

At the height of the series' popularity coachloads of tourists would arrive in Bampton to check out the film locations and fans are still turning up on a regular basis.

Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham in the period drama, backed a campaign to help preserve the volunteer-run Old Grammar School building in Bampton.

Oxford Mail:

Robin Shuckburgh, chairman of Bampton Community Archive, said he was delighted the movie has been made.

He added: “The tourists and fans of Downton keep on coming - it hasn’t stopped.

“Downton has been good for Bampton.

“Hugh Bonneville is an absolutely sweet fellow and helped us with our fundraising.

“The movie will make a big difference and bring in even more visitors.”

READ AGAIN: Life at Downton Abbey with Hugh Bonneville

The Old Grammar School in Church View doubles up as the surgery and Cottage Hospital in the series.

In 2017 the roof of the building where the community archive is kept was restored thanks to the £125,000 fundraising effort.

More work is expected to take place this year.

While the village-based segments were shot in Bampton, and the upstairs scenes were filmed at the opulent Highclere Castle in Berkshire, the servants’ scenes all took place in Ealing Studios in West London.

The show brought in £22bn boost to the UK tourism industry

The film has been written by Mr Fellowes and all of the original cast will be returning for the film, including Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley, Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley, Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley and Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley.

The star of the show, Maggie Smith is set to return as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham.

When the series finished Lord Fellowes paid tribute to the people of Bampton, saying they has been ‘really charming’.

The series finished with a special episode on Christmas Day, 2015.

The Downton Abbey movie will be released on September 13.