Bafta winner film director Ken Loach has screened his latest film in Mirehouse.

More than 100 keen fans packed into Mirehouse Labour Club to watch the veteran filmmaker’s I, Daniel Blake, which scooped Outstanding British Film at Sunday’s Baftas ceremony.

Following the screening of the film, 80-year-old Mr Loach, who also directed Kes and Cathy Come Home, held a question-and-answer session for the 120 ticket holders.

He said: “We went to Stoke yesterday and Copeland today, elections are really important. We thought the film might have a connection with people in the area and raise questions in their mind.

“The great privilege of making films is getting to talk to people.”

Excited visitors gathered to meet the director, who stopped for photos before introducing the film.

Audience member Leah Maudling, from Whitehaven, said: “I watched his Bafta acceptance speech last week and he sounded awesome.

“It’s a very normal, northern film which is my sort of thing.”

Phil Powe, of Mirehouse, said: “I’m a local in the club and they were taking names behind the bar. Like everyone I have seen Kes and I saw his speech after the Baftas, I think he speaks his mind.”

Mr Loach is a renowned socialist and is visiting the area as the Copeland by-election approaches, with his screening organised by Momentum, the grassroots organisation which supports Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party.

Earlier in the day, Mr Loach had been out door-knocking in Copeland for the Labour campaign.

“It was very interesting,” he said. “We found uppermost in people’s minds was the threat of hospital closure.”

Club chairman Mark Ryan said: “It’s absolutely brilliant to have him, we had so much interest. “They thought the film related to the area so wanted to show it. We couldn’t believe it, I thought someone was having us on.”