THE terrifying bomb attack on Yate’s Parnalls factory is the backdrop to a new short film currently being shot in the area.

The Life of Cynthia is being filmed in Yate and Chipping Sodbury and tells the true life tale of Cynthia Dash, from Old Sodbury, who was 17 at the time of the raid which killed ?? people on ???

In one dramatic scene, Cynthia watches from Kingrove Common as the German plane flies low before she hears the explosion of the bomb dropping and runs away with a friend.

But the film’s main focus is Cynthia’s incarceration in Coney Hill hospital, Gloucester, because she suffered from depression.

She was kept in the hospital for six years in the 1940s before contracting TB. She died at just 23 years old.

Now her story is being brought to life by filmmaker and relative Adam Morgan, 32, from Yate.

Said Adam, whose grandmother was Cynthia’s cousin: “I think people can learn a lot about the lack of treatment available in those days before the NHS was founded by watching this film.

“You wouldn’t’ be put away for depression alone now, and without any form of medication she really had little chance of getting better mentally.

Adam, who also appears in the film, added: “The film we are shooting explores the back story to life in Old Sodbury during the 1940s and respectfully touches on the tragic bombing of the Parnell’s factory.

“I really love the period in which the film is set. We previously shot a film about Cynthia Dash entitled Rosemary a couple of years ago, so I thought that would be the end of the story. “However, after acting in a few student dramas last year and having an action role in a local film, I still had this story on the brain.

“I couldn’t help thinking about creating a film where we see Cynthia before she became ill, and showing her bond with her close friend Jenny. So in essence The Life of Cynthia is a prequel to Rosemary, giving the audience an insight to life during World War Two in South Gloucestershire.”

Bristol actress Sophie Slavin, who plays Cynthia, said: “I feel really privileged to have been asked to play the role of Cynthia and ever since reading through the script I have felt that this film is going to be something special.

“It is a challenging role to play because of the emotion involved, even more so because this is real, this is what really happened and Adam has done an incredible job of piecing together the facts and medical records.”

Adam added: “We are very fortunate to have unspoilt land so close to where we live, Old Sodbury common is great for shooting some of the scenes of Cynthia riding her bicycle from work.

“I’m hoping this is going to be a really moving drama that will capture people’s interest.”

Filming has been taking place throughout the summer and the film will then go into post production, with an online version expected in November For further information about the film go to www.cynthiapictures.co.uk