TALENTED youngsters are following in the footsteps of Radcliffe's internationally famous film director Danny Boyle.

The group of 14 have been working on their own film since April after being recruited by Radcliffe Area Youth Worker, Bev Meadowcroft.

She said: "They created a storyline and this formed the basis of a funding bid to First Light, a lottery-funded organisation. This bid was successful and together with youth initiatives money, and support from King George Community Centre's management committee the young people embarked on their film- making experience."

The screenplay is about the aftermath of biological warfare. Nowhere is safe and a number of young people from different areas and backgrounds flee to the countryside.

There they meet and form a small community. But when one of them develops an illness a split develops in the group between those who want to help the sufferer and those who fear they too could get infected.

The cast and crew is made up of girls and boys aged 15 to 17 who attend Radcliffe High School, Coney Green Technology College and Bury College.

The teenagers have taken responsibility for every aspect of the film, from direction to editing, which they are doing at the moment. As part of the shoot they spent four days and nights filming at Burrs Activity Centre.

Mrs Meadowcroft said: "It is hoped that the project will develop life skills such as co-operation, negotiation, compromise, planning and responsibility.

"Three of the group have already indicated that, as a consequence of the project, they now want to go into film and TV as a career."

Mrs Meadowcroft has overseen the film, but the youngsters have also received support from multimedia worker, Paul Gilchrist, of 1way Youth Programme and a mentor, supplied by First Light, called Alex Usborne, who is a film and TV producer.

The team hope to complete the film by early December and screen it in January at the newly-refurbished Westminster Avenue Youth Centre.

So watch out Danny Boyle!