A blockbuster movie filmed on the streets of Southend hit cinemas last week and is already proving popular.

The cast and crew for Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance were spotted filming across the city throughout October last year with star of the show, Craig Fairbrass, sharing images on social media of the production at the time.

The Rise of the Footsoldier series is a British crime and gangster film franchise known for its brutal violence and gritty depiction of underworld crime.

This latest release is the sixth in the franchise, which Fairbrass claimed is the most successful to come out of the UK, was promised to be the most violent one yet.

Mr Fairbrass told the Echo at the time of filming: “It will be the most brutal, most hard hitting and most violent one yet.”

The popular Gold Coast restaurant on Southend seafront revealed last week that scenes were also filmed inside the Chinese restaurant as they celebrated the release.

A spokesman for the business posted on their social media: "The new film Rise of the Footsoldier Vengeance out tomorrow in cinema! Filmed in the Gold Coast."

With a 7.8 IMDb rating and a 4 out of 5 from Filmhounds Magazine, the latest addition to the franchise is proving popular.

In the series, Fairbrass plays notorious real-life Essex drug dealer Pat Tate who, aged 37, was found dead alongside two other drug dealers in a Range Rover parked on a small farm track on December 6, 1995, near the village of Rettendon.

The three - who were part of the Essex Boys gang - have been subject to numerous investigations, documentaries and films over the years since their deaths.

Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance follows Tate as he goes on a rampage to avenge his loyal and trusted footsoldier's violent death. To track down the killer, Tate ventures beyond his comfort zone of Essex and into the dark side of 90s Soho - although many scenes were filmed in Essex.

Alongisde Fairbrass, the film also features movie stars including Phil Davis, Josh Myers, Geoff Bell, Emily Wyatt and Jamie Foreman.

A fundraising campaign to help the film get made raised more than £40,000 and offered fans a chance to meet the stars on set for £100. One backer paid £10,000 to be punched by Craig Fairbrass.