Women's Institute members in Sussex feared they would have to strip when they were asked to star in the film Calendar Girls.

But instead their exposure was limited to a stroll down the red carpet.

Twenty members of Lindfield Evening, Cowfold Evening, Partridge Green and Washington Women's Institutes were invited to be extras in the film.

Starring alongside Dame Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, they spent a day filming a conference scene in Westminster's Central Hall.

The film is based on the true story of members of Rylstone Women's Institute (WI) in Yorkshire who stripped off for a calendar to raise money for a cancer charity.

Film-makers Buena Vista invited the women to appear in the film alongside paid extras.

Among them was Janice Langley, of Washington WI, who was given the red carpet treatment when she attended the London premiere of the film on Tuesday.

Mrs Langley, from East Grinstead, who sits on the board of the National Federation of Women's Institutes, was invited to watch her big-screen debut with the stars.

She said: "It was a wonderful night. Seeing myself on the screen was the strangest feeling. I have never done anything like this before but it was brilliant fun."

During filming she sat next to Sussex actress Geraldine James who had a lead role.

Mrs Langley said: "She was very friendly and asked me lots of questions about the WI. I might even try to get her to join us."

Christine Haddrell, president of Cowfold WI, took seven members from the group to London for filming in August last year.

She said: "We started filming a three-minute scene just after lunch and were there until gone 7pm.

"It was a fantastic day. Some of the extras came dressed in old-fashioned clothes and big hats, which is nothing like what we really wear at all. It was very funny.

"Hopefully, this film will challenge people's perceptions of the WI.

"We are not just boring, housebound ladies. We are women who often work full-time but just want to have a bit of fun and meet people."

Inspired by the film, Cowfold WI has organised its own event to raise money for research into leukaemia.

Members have organised their own premiere of the movie at Cineworld Multiscreen Cinema in Chichester on Thursday, complete with a red carpet and champagne reception.

Mrs Haddrell said: "The film is about a WI raising money for charity and now we are doing exactly that."