Image copyright Liam Daniel Image caption The Theory of Everything - biopic of Stephen Hawking - is credited with boosting the box office

The UK box office has seen a 10% rise in ticket sales in the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2014.

Figures released by the British Film Institute (BFI) show there have been 83 million tickets sold so far this year.

The BFI added that the market share of UK films was 32% - up from 26.8% last year.

The figures include joint UK-US productions including The Avengers: Age of Ultron and The Theory of Everything.

But it also includes independent films such as the Shaun the Sheep Movie, which made £13.7m and Far From the Madding Crowd, starring Carey Mulligan, which made £6.1m.

It is the highest share for UK films since 2012, the BFI added.

Image copyright Studio Canal Image caption Aardman's Shaun The Sheep movie takes the character away from the farm-based setting of the hit TV series

A total of 358 films were released in cinemas in the UK and the Republic of Ireland in the first half of the year.

Together they grossed £591m, compared to £490m from 342 films over the same period last year.

The biggest earning film so far this year is Jurassic World, which has grossed more than £57m so far.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron which was made in the UK is in second place with £48m.

Amanda Nevill, CEO of the BFI, said the report "shows that UK audiences are continuing to flock to the cinemas, ensuring film continues to be a vibrant contributor to the economy.

"It is particularly exciting for the UK creative sector to see films made in the UK achieving a strong share of the UK box office market."

The box office should continue to be healthy over the next six months, with the likes of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and James Bond film Spectre boosting cinema attendance.

Films in production

The BFI report also includes details on how much is being spent on film production in the UK.

The first six months of the year has seen £594m spent on film production spread across 79 films.

Inward investment has accounted for £518m of that figure, across 21 movies.

Domestic UK films budgeted at £500,000 and above have contributed £56m, across 24 films.

Amanda Nevill called the figures "encouraging".

"At this stage of the year, the overall spend on film production is encouraging with a higher percentage of spend being made in the UK but with new productions in the pipeline and due to start filming in the coming months, the full year's statistics at year end will give us a fuller picture," she said.

Figures released also show that £279m has been spent so far this year on 30 high-end TV productions, including the final series of Downton Abbey, Churchill's Secret, The Dresser and the third series of Endeavour.