A horror film, which has been shot at a Kent pub, is to be submitted to the UK's largest international thriller festival.

Freelance photographer Taylor Williams decided to create the project to give young people an opportunity to be part of a professional set and gain experience in the field.

Following a call on social media, 40 people turned up at The Ship Inn, in Gillingham, last week to be involved in the short movie.

The Walderslade resident said: “I wanted to provide a setting for young creatives to express themselves and gain experience on a professional set without the stress of being on a proper one.

“From my own experience of being on sets for TV, film and music videos, I was able to transfer that knowledge over and give them a one-to-one experience.

“It was also another chance to bring young people together who were complete strangers to each other but who all shared a passion for film and everything horror.”

All the practical effects were created by the team of make-up artists including Chloe Burrell, Annie Pearce, and Matilda Paoli.

Taylor added: “I would like to say a big thank you to every single person involved.

“Everyone played their roles perfectly, and I could not have asked for a better team and cast. New friendships were made and existing ones were boosted.

“A special thanks to producer Shane Nancarrow and creature actor Rosie Masters who without her help none of this would have been possible.

“She checked in on the cast and crew to make sure everything ran smoothly. The ship would have sunk without her help.

“Finally Amber Williams who is running all the social media involved with the film has been very professional throughout it all.

“I hope not just the film but the other content such as photos of make-up and behind the scenes help boost everyone’s work as I do not believe in having competition but collaboration.”

The film, Drained, follows the events of a 13th birthday party which turns to a fight for survival when a person shows up carrying a demonic book and stake and awakens a vengeful creature.

The partygoers become trapped in the pub and must work out the boozer’s mysterious past before the creature claims them one by one.

Many of the cast and crew also played extras alongside lead actress Lexi Gilham, who was also in Netflix’s Matilda.

Taylor added: “I wanted to create this project for a couple of reasons, but personally to remember my dad Dean Williams who used to tell my sister and me his own horror stories when we were younger.”

He said some scenes and shots within the movie were inspired by his stories.

The short picture is set to be submitted to FrightFest – the UK's largest international thriller, fantasy and horror film festival – as well as others.

This is the second project Taylor has run at The Ship Inn.

Two years ago he hosted a Peaky Blinders shoot to create work experience opportunities for pupils from Greenacre Academy, Walderslade Girls' School and MidKent College.

The college's hair and beauty students were in charge of make-up and other schools' pupils from media, photography and performing arts courses attended to build up their portfolios.