A film which was partly made in Birmingham is clocking up a worldwide audience and attracting thousands of website hits a day.

The 13th Day, which was edited in the city and tells the story of an alleged miracle at the end of the First World War, is drawing in 9,000 hits every day to its website, after it was widely promoted in the US.

The film is based on the story of three children who experienced apparitions with a lady from heaven in 1917, resulting in what has become known as ‘the Miracle of the Sun’, where the sun was said to have been spinning towards the earth in Fatima, Portugal.

It was originally supposed to be a 10-minute low-budget production but after winning funding from a mystery investor it became an 85-minute film.

The film’s producer Natasha Howes said The 13th Day had already won over its most important critics.

He explained: “We are overwhelmed at its success. All our dreams are going better than we imagined, with great State-side reviews.

“Our most critical audience was the Christian one. We had a private viewing at the Sanctuary at Fatima, in Portugal, which has given its endorsement.”

The 13th Day took three years to make with sound experts at the Audio Suite studios in Digbeth, at the heart of the production by editing and mixing the sound track.

In a further Midlands link, the musical score was created by Leamington composer Andy Guthrie.

The film, which was launched at a special media screening on Sunday at Warwick Arts Centre, and is to be released on October 13 – the same date that ‘the Miracle of the Sun’ was witnessed by 70,000 people 92 years ago.Neil Hillman, who runs The Audio Suite, said: “We are very proud to be associated with a film which could be considered faith’s answer to The Da Vinci Code.

“I think the directors, Ian and Dominic Higgins, and the producers are looking at a huge success. What’s interesting is that the film works on two levels – not only for faith groups but also as an incredibly moving story about the way the children retained their integrity, despite sustained persecution.”

The film will be released next month to the American market, followed up by a worldwide release around May 2010.

But anticipation is growing on its website, www.the13thday.com, which is seeing hits increase day-by-day.

The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, a former Archbishop of Birmingham, welcomed the film.

He said: “It is a remarkable re-telling of the story. It is a moving presentation and one which vividly portrays the courage of the children.

“I believe that many will be deeply touched by the film.”