A MAJOR police inquiry was launched in the Valleys after reports that a man was pulled from a car and dragged towards a swollen river.

But if locals thought it was just like a scene from a film, they were right - because the "crime" was a work of fiction dreamt up by student movie-makers.

A worried resident who saw what happened at noon on Monday called in police thinking the drama was real. Forensics specialists and uniformed officers combed the banks of the River Sirhowy. Twenty officers were assigned to the 'case'.

The river was checked for bodies at 'snagging points' all the way to Newport and the 'crime-scene' was manned all night.

Police issued an urgent appeal which said a car "was allegedly seen with approximately four male occupants acting suspiciously on Mill Lane, in the Springfield area of Pontllanfriath, Blackwood....Activity was reported to have been seen near the river, and police are investigating whether an individual has entered the water."

But yesterday almost 24 hours later, detectives discovered the "suspicious activity" they had been investigating was merely the group of local students making their film.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Mogg said: "It was quite irresponsible. One dreads what might have happened if a fake firearm had been involved." He warned other students to contact police before filming in public. But he said he breathed a "big sigh of relief" on hearing no one had gone into the rain- swollen river.

One resident of Mill Road, Springfield, who lives next to the scene but asked not to be named, said: "If nothing has happened then it is such a complete waste of money - it must have cost the police thousands and thousands of pounds."

Were you the drama students who sparked the alert - or do you know who they are? Contact the Argus on 01495 223648.