Our scenic countryside provides the perfect backdrop for many film shoots, which in turn boosts the economy and adds a sprinkle of Hollywood magic.

This week, however, film companies have been urged to take greater responsibility for their environmental impact when .

That was the message delivered to senior officers at Waverley Borough Council by representatives from Churt, Elstead, Thursley, and Tilford parish councils.

The meeting, convened by Cllr David Munro, Waverley councillor for Western Commons Ward, which encompasses all these villages, highlighted growing concerns over the ecological footprint left by productions.

The meeting in Elstead on February 24 heard how film companies allow heavy filming traffic to clog up country roads and village streets and potentially endangering rare ground-nesting birds.

The companies were also accused of closing bridleways and footpaths over the heathland for no apparent reason, and of causing excess light pollution at night in this rural area.

The borough council is the planning authority for the area and parishes are now asking Waverley to ensure that that film companies applying for filming rights submit proper plans for limiting the disturbance to local people and wildlife, and that these are more stringently enforced.

Speaking in a personal capacity after the meeting, Cllr Munro said: ‘No-one was against filming in principle but wanted the activities of filming companies to be better monitored by Waverley so that disturbance and congestion were minimised.

“We made several suggestions for improving the conditions granting planning permission, and agreed that more work needs to be done to clarify what filming companies should and shouldn’t do in future. I’m pleased to say that Waverley listened carefully to our concerns.

“This is just the start though: we need to follow through on the positive ideas brought up at the meeting, to ensure that filming in future is better controlled for the benefit of all local people, and to ensure that disturbance to wildlife is minimised.”

Snow White and the Huntsman and scenes from The Witcher were among films and TV series filmed in the area.