An action movie set in south Essex starring big names including Vinnie Jones and Keith Allen will hit the big screen later this week. 

Former footballer Vinnie was spotted filming Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins in Southend last year. 

Film crews were seen at locations across the town, including in Lucy Road, where they been used some of the old nightclubs as locations for the film.

The film is the fifth instalment in the crime franchise, which is known for its uncompromising depiction of violent gangs.

It explores how the notorious Essex Boys first united in the late 1980s.

In Origins Vinnie plays Bernard O’Mahoney, a real-life character associated with one of the three men murdered in the infamous Range Rover killings, Tony Tucker.

Directed by Nick Nevern the film will be released in cinemas on Friday. 

Echo: raig Fairbrass as Pat Tate and Vinnie Jones as Bernard O'Mahoney. Picture: PA Photo/Signature Entertainment/Rob Baker Ashtonraig Fairbrass as Pat Tate and Vinnie Jones as Bernard O'Mahoney. Picture: PA Photo/Signature Entertainment/Rob Baker Ashton

The likes of Terry Stone, Roland Manookian and Craig Fairbrass are also in the film, reprising their lead roles from the previous instalments in the movie franchise.

The fifth film in the series is another prequel to the 2007 dramatisation of the Rettendon murders.

Tony Tucker, played by Stone, and buddies Frampy, Jacko and Pete served together in the Falklands War.

They remain a band of brothers years later and intervene to save a young man from a brutal mugging outside a nightclub.

Echo: Vinnie Jones meets some police officers. Picture: Instagram @thevinniejonesVinnie Jones meets some police officers. Picture: Instagram @thevinniejones

The victim’s grandfather offers Tony a job as a doorman at his club, Hollywoods in Romford.

In Basildon, Dave Simms played by Allen, owner of nightclub Raquels, hires hard man Bernard O’Mahoney played by Jonesto root out football hooligans in his clientele led by Joey Waller aka Basildon Joe.

During the shoot Vinnie stayed at the Seven Hotel, in Clifton Terrace.

He shared pictures of the shoot and Southend on his Instagram account. 

Speaking to the Echo at the time Jawed Rashid, owner of the hotel, said: "It was an absolute pleasure to have Vinnie Jones staying with us at the Seven Hotel.

"He was very friendly and polite with all of the staff and said that the Seven Hotel was the best place in Southend to stay.

"He also said that he would love to come back and stay with us in the future.

"We are really looking forward to seeing his film once it is released."