Sign up to the Hull Live newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The man behind a new film about Hull's year as the UK City of Culture has hit out at censors after they gave it it 15 rating.

A Northern Soul is Hull-born award-winnng documentary filmmaker Sean McAllister's take on 2017.

It follows struggling factory worker Steve Arnott's dream of bringing hip-hop and rap to the city's estates in a youth project involving a converted bus.

The film was given a 12A rating by licensing councillors in Hull ahead of a recent series of initial screenings at the University of Hull and Vue in Princes Quay.

But now the British Board of Film Classification has decided it should have a 15 rating for its general release.

The rating also comes with a warning that the film features strong langauge.

While the documentary does feature regular use of the F-word, Mr McAllister said swearing was what ordinary people in Hull did and claimed the decision was an attack on working-class people.

On Twitter, he said: "It's a film about a working-class bloke helping kids with rap music find a better life.

"The 15 certificate prevents school screenings. Steve is a beacon of hope in communities these certification people have no idea about."

Mr McAllister, who was also creative director behind 2017's opening Made in Hull event, added: "It's funny the swearing in The King's Speech is a lot worse, including the C-word, but that gets a 12A."

He also compared the decision to the swearing on many of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey's TV shows.

"I always found it contrived when I heard Gordon Ramsey swear not 'cause he’s a posh t*** but because it didn’t feel right, like he was trying to swear for a shock reason but when Steve swears he isn’t swearing, he’s speaking and doesn’t offend. It makes sense. Well, up here it does."

More screenings will be held on three evenings next week at Vue as well as later in the month.

In response to the BBFC decision, Mr McAllister said all next week's screenings would be free to children "under 15 and over 12ish".

Get the Hull Live app

It's completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and what’s on information. You can download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store , or get the Android version from Google Play .