GET Carter put Tyneside landmarks on the map, now new film Dick Lorent aims to do the same.

The new flick could end up conferring a little bit of cult status on the pedestrian and cyclist tunnels where it was entirely shot.

The psychological thriller has its premiere in London on Sunday before an invited audience and its first public screening in the capital on Friday, July 13.

It was shot in the listed tunnels in January by London-based film makers Nico and Yan Martin, who have entered it for the upcoming Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland and the London Film Festival.

“It would be nice if the tunnels became something of a cult thing,” said Paul Fenwick, project director for the Tyne & Wear Integrated Transport Authority. Nico said: “We don’t have Michael Caine but you never know.”

The script, based on a true story, called for a tunnel setting and the brothers scouted locations in London.

“But places like the Greenwich tunnel were too white, and when we came across the Tyne tunnels on the web they seemed exactly what we were looking for,” said Nico.

“We travelled to Tyneside to take a look and we loved them. The shooting sessions took place overnight when the tunnels – once thronged with 20,000 workers a day in the 1950s and 60s – were empty.

“The tunnels are beautiful and their cream and green colours add so much,” said Nico.

“Although the shoot was challenging, it was an amazing location.

“We are so grateful to the Tyne & Wear Integrated Transport Authority for giving us permission to make our film there.

“The tunnels will soon be featuring on cinema screens around Europe,” said Nico, who is planning to enter the film in festivals in venues from Berlin to Venice.

Mr Fenwick said: “The tunnels are unique and provide an interesting setting for photographers and film-makers.

“We were delighted to allow Nico and Yan to film in the tunnels and wish them every success.”

The tunnels were opened in July, 1951 and featured the first purpose-built cyclist tunnel in the UK.