Dramatic pictures show fire and explosions at Bamburgh Castle as filming for Indiana Jones continues

Spectators patiently watching from the beach and dunes saw part of the movie set engulfed in flames, while plumes of smoke could also be seen emerging from the castle grounds.

There were also explosions and the sound of stuntbikes in action, although they remained hidden from public view behind the castle walls.

Dozens of extras could also be seen arriving at the castle.

Local residents were notified in advance ‘that there will be use of atmospheric smoke, special effects fireworks and flares and gunfire sounds’.

A Second World War-era motorbike is visible in one of the images taken at Bamburgh Castle Northumberland, by PA news agency photographer Owen Humphreys.

Harrison Ford is reprising the role of the world’s most daring archaeologist at the age of 78 but it was not clear if Dr Jones was the man on the motorbike.

However, the dramatic scenes have led to speculation that the fire and the bike were linked to yet another death-defying escape from the Nazis.

Bamburgh Castle has been closed to the public for several days and Second World War vehicles have been spotted being delivered to the site in the run up to filming.

On Thursday evening into Friday morning, the crew staged a fire on the set which lit up the night sky.

Mr Humphreys said: “They started to test the set around 9pm and filming went on to about 1am.

“They staged a fire and we could see a man on a motorbike going up to the castle – it could be a prison break scene, after all, this is Indiana Jones.

“It looked spectacular in the night sky with the backdrop of the famous castle.”

During down time from filming, Ford has been spotted cycling along the Northumberland coast and on Tyneside.

Earlier in the movie schedule, he tipped his famous hat at a young fan in Grosmont, North Yorkshire, and told him he was Indiana Jones’s stunt double.

It is 40 years since the first Indiana Jones film, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, hit cinema screens.

Harrison Ford is reported to be working alongside English actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Danish actor, Mads Mikkelsen, on the fifth film of the franchise.

Bamburgh Castle will reopen to the public on Monday, June 14.

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