As dawn broke over Magdalen Bridge yesterday morning, a beaming, red-haired 23-year-old woman rode naked towards High Street.

But this wasn't an alcohol-induced student prank, but a modern re-enactment of the legend of Lady Godiva. And they were filming it without council authority.

The scene was recreated for a new feature film loosely based on the 12th century heroine, who rode her horse naked through the streets of Coventry. The woman behind the camera was 20-year-old Boars Hill film director Vicky Jewson.

Miss Jewson's first attempt at a major movie, Lady Godiva is being filmed almost entirely in Oxford.

But not everyone was happy about a naked woman riding through the city.

"We did not get the support of the city council, which was a shame," explained Miss Jewson, "so we had to do a bit of a covert mission.

"But the main thing was to get the thing done before the police turned up, which we did."

Between 4.45am and 5.50am, drivers approaching the famous bridge were confronted by the site of naked actress Phoebe Thomas riding bareback towards them.

Miss Thomas was joined by 100 extras for the scene in which she rode from the edge of the bridge along High Street.

Even though her breasts were covered by her long hair, and she wore skin coloured knickers, the sight certainly sent a group of teenage boys in the cheering crowd of extras into a frenzy of excitement.

The actress also had to strip across the bridge while dancing to the Michael Jackson song The Way You Make Me Feel. And, sure enough, off came the pink trainers, the black stockings, black leather jacket and red bra.

Afterwards, she said it had been a liberating experience.

"I thought it was going to be embarrassing, but it was incredibly empowering. I'll be getting my own horse and riding through London naked all the time now!" she joked.

"I wasn't dreading doing it beforehand, but I did not allow myself to think about it until yesterday and, in the end, it was fine."

Legend has it that Lady Godiva stripped off because her tyrannical Lord of a husband said it was the only way he would lower taxes.

But although the inspiration for the film comes from medieval times, Miss Jewson's heroine is a 21st century charity worker, fighting to make a difference in the world.

Also starring Nicholas Parsons, the film's £1.4m budget has been raised from local businesses.

After dashing around the set yesterday, former Wychwood School pupil Miss Jewson, who made her first movie' at the age of seven, admitted being exhausted but delighted with the way the shoot had gone.

She said: "I am very pleased, especially with the lighting.

"It is what my camera boys call 'magic hour'. They've been wanting to film at this time right the way through."

She added: "I see Oxfordshire as a fantastic place to film and I want to make it a self-made studio for films over the next 10 years, so hopefully attitudes will soften."

Lady Godiva is due to premiere in Oxford, before a London debut at Leicester Square, next spring.