Epsom, Banstead and Ashtead can all now lay claim to their own superhero as Andrew Garfield, in the shape of Spider-Man, wows cinema audiences across the country.

Garfield may play US orphan Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which opened last week, but in real life he moved to Banstead with his family, aged 3, and went to Priory Prep in the town before attending City of London Freemans School in Ashtead.

And he learned his stagecraft with Epsom Youth Theatre from the age of 14, long before the bright lights of Hollywood beckoned for the 30-year-old actor.

Described as "a natural" by his former drama teacher at City of London Freemans, who persuaded him to take drama A level, Garfield's celebrity status is reinforced by his ongoing romance with co-star Emma Stone.

Mary Zoeller, PR consultant for the Epsom Playhouse, said: "We already know there is a wealth of young acting talent in this area, anyone who has ever seen any local youth theatre productions will agree.

"But to have a superhero who once lived and studied locally really is the icing on the cake!

Hopefully Andrew's success will encourage even more aspiring young actors and actresses to choose this profession."

George Honeysett, manager at the Odeon cinema, on Upper High Street, Epsom, said: "A lot of our staff know somebody who know somebody who knows Andrew Garfield.

"We did a staff screening last week and a lot of them were excited to see it because of that.

"The film came out last Wednesday and it’s done ok. The weather was nice over Easter and that has an effect. I loved it."