AN award-winning film director has launched a free phone line to document people's lives during coronavirus lockdown.

Liam Saint-Pierre, from Blackburn, is inviting people up and down the country to pick up the phone and share their stories of life in lockdown.

The Missing Line is a response by the director to the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen the Blackburn community isolated indoors as they shield from the virus.

It is an anonymous and free phone line to allow people to talk about what they have missed and learnt during recent months.

Mr Saint-Pierre, who had a short film qualify for the Oscars, said: “We are all social beings, the need to connect with others is at the heart of what it means to be human.

“In these strange times across the world, the current pandemic has meant that countless people, forced into social isolation for their own good are, perhaps for the first time in their life, suffering from a sense of isolation and loneliness.”

During the lockdown, it has been recorded that the equivalent of 7.4 million Brits have been affected by loneliness.

By picking up the phone, communities can reconnect with the world they have been cut off from, giving others a snippet into their lives and exploring feelings.

He said: “Our project aims to connect the nation and give people the power to share their voice.

“We hope to create a memorable and moving film full of beauty, humour, honesty and hope, which captures the raw emotions and experiences felt throughout this time.”

As the nation prepares to re-enter society, director Saint-Pierre and producer Ross Williams are calling for people, young and old, to help them document this moment in time by calling the anonymous phone line and recording their lockdown confessions.

The phone line will be open until Saturday, July 11, after which a selection of the phone call messages will be used to create a short documentary film titled Missed Calls, bringing to life what it is hoped will be honest, surprising, heart-breaking, funny and insightful stories from across the nation.

By using what people have missed during the Covid-19 pandemic, the eight-minute film will explore 24 hours of lockdown life, to reflect a transition of fear to hope across the UK.

Everyone is being encouraged to share what lockdown has meant to them by calling The Missing Line, free and anonymously on 0800 002 9155.

Find out more here www.themissingline.com/