WORKERS at Hanningfield Reservoir found themselves entertaining an A-list guest in the midst of filming at the water treatment plant.
Hollywood actor Tom Cruise took the time to pay a visit to Essex & Suffolk Water's offices in Sandon Valley House while filming for his latest blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow in August last year.
A now redundant part of the on-site treatment works was transformed for action sequences in the action thriller which sees Cruise fight an alien invasion alongside actress Emily Blunt.
David Alborough, Group Property Services Manager for Essex & Suffolk Water said: "We discussed with the producer if it would be possible for Tom to meet our staff at Hanningfield. It is very unusual for this to be allowed and we were delighted when he and Tom agreed, they even arranged the visit so that as many people as possible could be available which was very generous of them considering their tight schedule.
"When something special, such as the visit of a Hollywood A-Lister can be arranged for colleagues – well, that's just something incredible.
"As part of the setting up for the film, I met with Tom Cruise and he was very much part of the crew and not like you would expect a star to be at all. The overwhelming feeling from everyone that had the pleasure to meet him here at Hanningfield was what a nice guy he was and how incredibly generous he was with his time."
The US actor spent time chatting with employees at the offices before agreeing to pose for a picture with around 250 people.
The Hanningfield works has been a location for many other well-known films, TV series and music videos including Brad Pitt's film 'World War Z'.
