A STRIKING new mural depicting Billy Casper in the iconic Barnsley film Kes has caught the eye of residents - including Dai Bradley himself.

Shot in Barnsley in 1968, Ken Loach’s acclaimed British drama focuses on Billy - played by Dai - who is a troubled working-class boy who attempts to break away from his bleak existence by taking up falconry, training a kestrel that he finds on a nearby farm.

It is widely-acclaimed as one of the best northern films in history, with huge stars such as Stephen Graham and Robert Duvall placing it amongst their favourites.

The film is already etched in Barnsley’s history thanks to a statue made by Graham Ibbeson, which is located outside the Alhambra.

But the latest mural, on the Victoria Garage in Cudworth, has certainly caught locals’ eyes.

Dai, who was a 14-year-old boy when he was asked to play Billy, told the Chronicle: “I met the garage owner, Tony Lees, and his granddaughter at the site of the enormous Billy Casper mural earlier this week and it’s very impressive.

“Paul told me the reason he commissioned Northern Murals UK was that he attended St Helen’s School in the 70s, a few years after Kes was shot there, and he wanted to celebrate what the film represented to the local community - not only of people my age, but also all the younger generations who have followed since the film was made.

“It seems to be quite popular too, considering the number of people who have visited it already.”

Thomas Crowe, who helped design and produce the mural, said: “It’s a mural that represents the area.

“When we knew we were doing one in the area we brainstormed a few ideas but I thought Kes was the strongest one.

“The film is a big deal in Barnsley, and we thought it would fit well, we hope it will be there for many years to come as well.

“Because it’s near a busy garage we’ve had a lot of people already go past telling us their own Kes stories, such as people who went to school with members of the cast.

“Sharing the mural will hopefully make people feel included and proud.”