Young actors took to the streets of Oxford to film a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

The budding actors, from the city-based Youngstar TV and Film School, all got their parts in the film after taking place in open auditions in March.

Louisa Young, who runs the school, said filming had been a big success and the quality of the young acting talent unearthed in Oxford had been fantastic.

She said: "It's been great fun and I think all the actors involved have really enjoyed themselves and thrown themselves into the project.

"Oxford is a great place to film and looks fantastic. We really hope that people will like what we have done.

"After an article in the Oxford Mail about the auditions, I got hundreds of phone calls and hundreds of people came to them and we had some great talent to choose from."

Mrs Young said the short film condensed the tale of Romeo and Juliet, to focus on the most dramatic parts of the tale, and "tweaked" it for a young, modern audience.

She said: "Our version is only 15 minutes long, so we've had to be very selective.

"We combine the old with the new and when people are using the original Shakespearian text they appear in old-style dress.

"But then it will go back to modern day and they will be using more modern language.

"We did this, because we wanted to make Shakespeare more accessible for young people."

The short film will be premiered at the Phoenix Picturehouse, in Jericho, in September before being shown at independent cinemas around the country.

Mrs Young said: "We want to make the kids feel special, so we will be getting limos to bring them to the cinema for the premiere. You usually get all the parents down and it's a great night."

The film's director, Bill Baxter, said: "I saw some real budding stars emerge, who we will hopefully use again for other projects."