So it was no surprise to find the film-maker back behind the camera yesterday.

This time, however, he was not working with Helen Mirren and the project was slightly more modest than the Queen – because Andy had returned as a local hero to help out youngsters at West Town Primary School, in Williamson Avenue, Peterborough.

His name is still on the school register from 1961 and although he is now one of Britain's top producers of television and cinema, Andy was back to show he had not forgotten his roots.

Despite the fact he is now busy working on a major new project following the success of the Queen, which won star Helen Mirren a Best Actress Oscar, Andy took time to visit today's pupils at his old school.

The children were delighted to see him because they wanted some top tips on their own film making projects, which have been encouraged by headteacher Nikki Cherry.

Last year, the young film fans won Best Foreign Language Film at the Peterborough Children's Film Awards for their production of Odysseus and the Swizacom in French.

After watching the film which featured puppets, Andy told them: "Anything is possible because I went to this school and started where you did. I wanted to get into film because I loved it so much and that's what I did.

"It's so much easier to get into film now than it was when I started. If you want to do it you can."

Pupils William Jilliffe (9) and Aateqah Zaib (10) escorted Andy around the school on the day where he met most of the children and their teachers face to face.

He was also shown a film made by last year's year five group that won a major award.

William asked Andy what had inspired him to make a film about the Queen.

Andy said: "I thought no one had done it before and because of Diana's death I thought one should be made."

Adding that maybe it was a film William, whose favourite film is Casino Royale, would watch when he was older.

Andy, who now lives in London attended the school more than thirty years ago and still maintains strong links with the city as a Posh supporter and a regular visitor to his mother, Christine who lives in Longthorpe.

Headteacher Nikki Cherry said she was delighted Andy could visit and thanked him for taking time out of his busy schedule to be there.

Before he left, Andy presented the school with two signed copies of the Queen and a hugh framed poster signed by himself and Helen Mirren.

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