THE director of police comedy Hot Fuzz is today celebrating the 15th anniversary of the film that let him "run riot" in his home city, Wells. 

Hot Fuzz became the second instalment of Wright's 'Cornetto Trilogy', starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, when it was released in 2007.

The trio had previously worked together on Shaun of the Dead, released in 2004, and they ended the triology with The World's End in 2013.

Wright co-wrote Hot Fuzz with Pegg, who plays London police officer Nicholas Angel.

Angel is a dedicated constable who finds himself promoted to sargeant and transferred to the countryside against his will after making his Metropolitan Police colleagues "look bad" with his outstanding arrest record. 

Angel finds himself in the fictional, sleepy village of Sandford, where he struggles to adapt to the slow pace of rural policing - that is, until a series of 'unfortunate accidents' takes place, leaving several villagers dead. 

Shortly after the film's release, County Gazette writer Laura Thorpe offered her views, writing: "He's (Angel) so obsessed with his work that when he arrives in the West Country village of Sandford, he immediately begins trying to clean up a town where, on the surface, nothing ever happens.  

"At his new station, he's partnered with Danny, played by Nick Frost, the none-too-bright son of the chief, Jim Broadbent. 

"Before long, bodies are piling up like it was Midsomer, but only Angel believes they're anything other than accidents. 

Somerset County Gazette: REVIEW: County Gazette writer Laura Thorpe said it is "really quite difficult to find fault with Hot Fuzz"REVIEW: County Gazette writer Laura Thorpe said it is "really quite difficult to find fault with Hot Fuzz"

"It's really quite difficult to find fault with Hot Fuzz. 

"It delivers everything it promises and a bit more besides. 

"At its heart, we have the buddy/love story between Nick and Danny, played to perfection by Pegg and Frost. 

"They're also supported by the absolute cream of British comedy and acting talent." 

Hot Fuzz's stellar cast also includes Olivia Colman, Timothy Dalton, Martin Freeman, Bill Nighy, Bill Bailey, and Stephen Merchant.  

Today, Wright posted a complilation of Hot Fuzz clips to Twitter and said: "It's a Happy 15th Anniversary to Hot Fuzz, a movie that let me run riot in my Somerset hometown.

"I'm so happy and proud people watch and quote it to this day."

Wright grew up in Wells, attended The Blue School there between 1985 and 1992, and worked as a shelf-stacker at the city's Somerfield supermarket (now a Peacocks store) that features in the film.

When he was a student, the school allowed him to borrow a video camera and show the first films he ever created with a 50p admission fee.

His former drama teacher, Peter Wild, made a cameo appearance in Hot Fuzz as a Village of the Year judge.

In 2016, a blue plaque was installed at The Blue School in his honour.

At its unveiling, Wright said: "I hope it will make these young people think, if a skinny Blue School teenager can become a famous Hollywood film writer and director, what can I achieve?"

On the film's 10th anniversary, a special screening took place at Bishop's Palace in Wells.