The Rochdale Pioneers film tells the story of the early co-op movement

A film that tells the story of the birth of the Co-operative Movement gets its TV premiere tomorrow night on Film4.

The Rochdale Pioneers tells the story of the 28 men who formed the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society and co-operative store in 1844.

The 52-minute film was commissioned by The Co-operative Group and produced by The Co-operative British Youth Film Academy to mark the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives.

“The original Rochdale Pioneers set out the principles of how co-operatives around the world operate to this day,” said Co-op Group national co-operative and membership manager Mark Robinson-Field.