A FRIENDSHIP spanning six decades has prompted a Darwen pensioner to create her first memory-filled movie.

Budding film-maker Norma Helmn, 64, was inspired to tell the tale of her 58-year-old relationship with a childhood chum as part of the BBC's 'Telling Lives' series.

And now her film - and that of fellow film-maker David Coggins, of Blackburn - could be screened to a massive TV audience.

As part of the 'Telling Lives' project participants were invited to bring photographs, clips from home videos and other artefacts to work alongside members of the BBC to create a digital movie of their story.

In her short film 'Friendship', which is being shown on a massive TV screen in Manchester's Exchange Square, Norma, a retired secretary, from Sandon Street, told the tale of her relationship with childhood pal, Arthur Spurling, who she has known since they were both children during the 1940s.

The pair met when Arthur, who was just two, moved into a house just a few doors from the home Norma, then five, shared with her family.

Although Arthur moved away with his family to Norfolk when he was nine, the pair kept in touch by letter.

They met up again briefly when they were both in their 20s and then again 15 years ago when Norma visited Arthur at his home, now in Kilmarnock, Scotland.

And last year she was invited to attend a surprise party to mark his 60th birthday.

Norma, mum to David, 38, and Jennifer, 32, said: "I had been involved in a computer course at Darwen library when one of the tutors invited me to get involved in the 'Telling Lives' project.

"In total it took three days to put together the still photographs and include a voiceover.

"I enjoyed making the short film, although it was very intense.

"I couldn't wait to see the finished project but at the same time I didn't want the project to end.

"I have sent a copy to Arthur and he is thrilled by it."

David Coggins, 59, former head of art at St Mary's College, Blackburn, chose his wife, Moira, 60, who has suffered from Alzheimers for the past 15 years as the focal point for his film, 'Almost an Angel'.

David, of Lammack Road, Blackburn, said: "I based the film, in a nutshell on Moira's illness.

"It has been a learning curve for me in terms of spirituality. Not in conventional terms but in the sense that losing herself to dementia enabled me to find myself.

"There are pictures of Moira and a voiceover talking about how the dementia took over. My daughter, Jane Colborne, also features briefly in the film."

Barrie Stephenson, executive producer for the project said: "Every family album has a story in it.

"We are doing this as a way of helping people to tell their stories in the form of a short movie, and some of them have been very impressive and revealing.

"We have also been helping to give them new skills."

A short selection of the locally made films are currently being displayed on the BBC Big Screen in Exchange Square, Manchester and there are also plans to show them on TV.

Anyone wishing to get involved in the project can contact the 'Telling Lives' office on 01254 841056.