SCOOTERS converged on a seaside town last night as a cult Mod movie launched a film festival.

The second annual Whitley Bay film festival opened at the Trojan Rooms in the town’s South Parade with a sell-out showing of Quadrophenia.

The 1979 British film, loosely based around the 1973 rock opera of the same name by The Who, is set in 1965, starring Phil Daniels as a scooter-riding Mod.

Last night scooter enthusiasts paraded along the North Tyneside coast to kick off the festival.

“Quadrophenia is a classic. It is the ultimate Mod film, and the scooters are great. The film was one of our first events to sell out,” said Ema Lea of festival organisers Primate Productions of Whitley Bay.

The film festival runs until Sunday, August 28, following the success of last year’s debut event when another sell-out audience of 160 watched a screening of Jaws on Whitley Bay beach.

Today sees community short films at 2.30pm at the Trojan rooms followed at 7pm by independent films.