Keen to make Leicester in the east Midlands a hub for Indian film producers, local authorities have initiated an ambitious project called 'Filmpur' that includes a centre to train film professionals.

In recent years, Britain has figured prominently in Indian films - as a location for shooting as well as themes in stories involving non-resident Indians based here. Britain is also now a major overseas revenue source for Indian films.

Leicester has a large minority of Indian origin, mainly from Gujarat. The town has close trade and cultural links with Indian towns such as Rajkot, Surat, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Local authorities have commissioned several studies in recent years on how the town and region could exploit these links.

The drive to intensify links with the Indian film industry is led by the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership (LSEP), a body that seeks to foster and promote economic development within Leicester and Leicestershire.

The region is well placed to become a hub for Indian films because it offers South Asian language skills, a wide range of locations, historic buildings, a good infrastructure and a network of successful businesses besides family ties with South Asia.

The authorities are keen to attract not only Hindi film producers but also those from other Indian film industries.

Kishor Tailor, chief executive of LSEP, said: "We would like to see businesses working together so that we are able to offer the South Asian film industry an unrivalled package. Creative Industries are already making a significant contribution to the Leicester Shire economy and this initiative will identify new opportunities for local businesses."

Bertrand Moullier, film industry consultant, added: "With double-digit annual growth, the Indian film industry is bursting at the seams right - there is more money around to finance films and Indian producers are increasingly using foreign locations, including the UK. Leicester Shire has a lot to offer them and should be confident about capturing some of this business."

Nearly 1 million pounds have been sanctioned to set up a Media Innovation Centre in Film and Television Excellence, which will train people to work at various levels in the film industry, including production, post-production and IT. The centre will be set up in association with the South Leicestershire College.

Tailor told the local media: "It is good news that we have got this funding because it means we now have the framework and structure in place. The reason it is important we have these plans in place now is because the Bollywood industry is being wooed by different countries.

"We need to be on the forefront. We want this to benefit the region but we want Leicestershire to be seen in India as a hub for the UK and Europe. We don't just want to concentrate on Bollywood, but also Tamil movies and other big spenders.

"We feel we already have the business here, which could be beneficial to anyone looking to film here."

South Leicestershire College principal Lowell Williams said: "This new site will act as a training centre, particularly in media and television-related studies both for young people and adults.

"We want to attract investment into Leicester and this centre can help develop the region into the Bollywood market. We are looking for this centre to provide a venue for media companies to work in. This centre is a key starting point."