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Ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, local director Andrew Creak has released a short film telling the story of his family in Senghenydd during the Second World War.

The award-winning semi-biographical A Postcard From Bill is set to be released earlier than planned according to Andrew, with the film already celebrating success at film festivals across the world.

Andrew said: “It has been inspired by my grandfather Gordon Creak, with all the stories he told me about growing up during the war in Senghenydd, and at 91, he became my executive producer to help me make this film.

“The main story that influenced the film is how my great grandfather, GNR William George Creak, would send postcards home to his wife Gladys, and his young son, my Gramp, Gordon, as a way to inform them that he was safe, and where in the world he was.

“By sending a picture postcard, with the simple words of ‘Love Bill’ written on the back, the power those two words had for Gladys was resounding, they told her that he was still alive, and the photo on the card allowed her to know where in the world he was at that time.”

The film itself is set in 1944, and Bill hasn’t sent his wife a postcard in over a month. Gladys’ fears begin to grow when she hears that Dover, where he was last stationed, has been bombed by the Nazi air force.

Gladys attempts to ‘keep calm and carry on’ for her son Gordon, and evacuee Johnny. Her world is falling apart, and when Mr Bussel the postmaster arrives with a letter in hand, Gladys can only fear the worst.

The film will be released on YouTube at 3pm on Thursday May 8, marking exactly 80 years since the end of the war.