Carlisle Airport closed its doors at the weekend to make the way for a secret film shoot.

Speculation has been growing as to exactly what was being filmed there - with rumours that BMW were using the site for a secret shoot ahead of a new car launch.

The Carlisle Lake District Airport is keeping the reason under wraps, but did confirm it was closed for a private client.

The airfield, on the edge of Carlisle, was on lock-down throughout the weekend, with a visible police presence.

One local pilot told the News & Star that their aircraft were moved out of the main hanger to make way for filming. They also spotted a large film crew, along with foreign trucks, at the airfield.

Another onlooker said at lunchtime on Saturday there were three police officers, and three vehicles with lights flashing, blocking both ends of the public road to the Solway Aviation Museum.

A coach of pre-booked visitors from the Lancaster Archaeological and Historical Society initially could not reach the site.

They were eventually let in, after being told by police to turn around and take a detour.

One member of the coach party said museum staff did not know why the airfield had been closed off.

He added that only thing they could see on the airfield that afternoon was a group of vans from Location Catering - a company specialising in food for TV and movie crews. There were unconfirmed reports of a car wrapped in black plastic on the airfield.

A Stobart Group spokesman said: “We can confirm that Carlisle airport was closed over the weekend as part of a private hire event.”