MAKERS of Preston's first feature film, Chicken Tikka Masala, are planning to set up a centre which could help make Oscar winning directors of the future.

Seven Spice Productions, which also runs Film Inc, is in consultation with the county council and Preston City Council to find a site for a "film incubator unit", a centre which would provide all resources necessary for the making of the film from start to finish. They even have a name for it, the Preston Film and Media Centre.

They have already carried out a feasibility study, and estimate it would cost around £5-8million.

Budding movie makers would have access to skilled professionals and film production equipment. And, although it would be free to use, Film Inc bosses hope to earn money from films once they have been released.

Producer Rony Ghosh said: "We'll take equity off any of the films that are released and hopefully be able to cover our costs in that way.

"There is a lot of expertise and talent out there and it would be great to get all this to Preston.

"Making films is very costly and it would have been ideal to have had his sort of facility when we were making Chicken Tikka Masala.

"Preston is the ideal place to have a centre like this because there are so many potential filming places close by."