Eastbourne will take on the role of rival resort Margate in a new Michael Caine film - but not a lot of people will know that.

Its sandy beach and imposing pier will transport filmgoers back in time to Margate's heyday - even though the seaside attractions were actually shot in Sussex.

Eastbourne has stepped in to cover for the failings of the Kent resort after film producers scoured the coast for a location for new blockbuster Last Orders.

With Sir Michael heading an all-star cast including Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Tom Courteney and Ray Winstone, there was no question of cutting corners.

So, for this week only, crews and cameras are taking over from deckchairs and ice creams as Last Orders is filmed on Eastbourne Pier.

The £12 million independent production tells the tale of a group of old friends and their bid to fulfil one of their number's dying wish by carrying his ashes from London to the sea.

The film is based on Graham Swift's Booker Prize-winning novel and is directed by Australian Fred Schepisi.

Unfortunately, the ageing Kent resort of Margate lost its pier long ago, leaving film makers short of a crucial backdrop.

A number of locations were considered and Eastbourne was picked as the best of the bunch.

Any sign of technology on the Victorian structure has been covered up to fit in with the film's mid-20th Century setting.

But those hoping for a glimpse of Oscar-winning actor Sir Michael and his fellow stars will be disappointed.

The Eastbourne scenes are for flashback sequences and a group of young hopefuls play their more famous counterparts' characters in their youth.

Yesterday, a "young Michael Caine" could be seen taking shots at a pier shooting gallery as part of a scene from the film.

Much of the filming was being kept strictly under wraps but that did not stop crowds gathering for a sneak preview.

Producer Elisabeth Robinson said: "The film is about three men who take the ashes of their friend to the seaside and on the way remember their lives with him.

"The scene we are shooting here is supposed to be in Margate and involves the characters when they are young."

The film crew even created a tiny patch of Margate's sandy beach on Eastbourne's pebbles.

Locals looked on as actors and extras in period costume paraded on the pier and beach.

Among them were members of an Eastbourne family who stumbled across their moment of fame by chance.

Filmgoers will be able to spot Lisa Verna and daughters Tatum, 12, and Bliss, three, in the background of the finished flick.

Lisa said: "We went on a bike ride and rode past the Devonshire Park Theatre when they were doing the casting for extras so we thought we would have a go.

"Today is our third day on set. We've been trying to do the same scene for two days now. There's a lot of waiting around."

Tatum said: "We've had to miss school to do this but my friends think it's really good and they all want to see me in it."

Last Orders is due to be released next year.