THE town’s role in the transatlantic slave trade will be revealed in a film produced by pupils from six of the borough’s schools.

The £17,000 documentary was funded by a heritage lottery grant given to the Warrington Humanities Network.

Students from Birchwood, Bridgewater, Culcheth, Lymm, Lysander and St Gregory’s high schools spent months researching, writing, presenting and filming Behind the Golden Gates, a 30-minute insight.

Paul Wainwright, former assistant head teacher at Lymm High School, said: “I am really, really proud of the whole thing. The quality of the film is absolutely superb. It was an absolutely brilliant team to work with.”

He said that almost all of the 23 young people who were heavily involved in the film have continued to study humanities or furthered their interest in media.

Support was drafted in from the International Slavery Museum and Warrington Museum and archives to get to the root of the town’s connection to slavery.

Pupils conducted historical research, dealt with sensitive historical topics, plot storyboards, script, present a film, operated camera and sound equipment and used studio equipment to edit the end product.

The film touches upon: l The range of trades within the town which benefited from the profits of the slave trade l Warringtonians who invested in slave trading voyages l The wide range of buildings and infrastructure projects funded by those profited from the trade l Warrington Academy’s role in the abolitionist movement l How some people in the town resisted slavery up to the time of the American Civil War.

Warrington Museum is in talks to hold an exhibition about the project and its findings. The International Slavery Museum intends to distribute the film for teacher training and show it on its website.

It will premiere at the Parr Hall tonight, Thursday. To secure a free ticket call Colette Dobson on 443180.