A major online campaign to persuade the BBC to screen a film starring Shropshire’s Oscar-nominated actor Pete Postlethwaite on TV has won support from viewers across the UK.

Mr Postlethwaite, who lives near Bishop’s Castle, stars in The Age Of Stupid, which was screened a week ago on BBC 4.

The 90-minute movie was only available to people with access to digital services and a campaign was launched to persuade the broadcaster to show it on BBC 2.

The film was released in March this year to widespread acclaim and American president Barack Obama asked for a copy to be sent to him.

Now people are being urged to write letters to the BBC in a campaign led by The Age of Stupid director Franny Armstrong, who also made McLibel.

She said people could go online and e-mail letters in order to increase the prospects of the film been shown on BBC 2.

Among those who have pledged their support are Alex Hannaford, of High Wycombe, who said: “Thank you for airing this important film. Please repeat it on a prime channel at an earlier time so more people can watch it.

“It is a movie which should be seen by as many people as possible, especially the younger audience, in order to move the debate and actions on global warming along.”

Yasmine Phillips, from London, is also backing the campaign. She said: “I thought the programme was incredibly enlightening about the current emergency situation that our planet is facing.

“I feel very strongly that more people need to be educated about the state of environment.”

Pallavi Devulapalli, from King’s Lynn, said: “It made me tearful at times. It should be compulsory viewing for everyone.”