A JOURNALIST'S eight-year campaign to free a man wrongly convicted of murder is to be turned into a major TV drama.

And as well as helping to write the script, Don Hale is hoping for a cameo role in the drama of the controversial killing.

Prestwich-born Don, a former editor of the Bury Messenger, was responsible for securing the release of Stephen Downing after 27 years in prison. Downing had been wrongly convicted of murdering Wendy Sewell in Bakewell, Derbyshire, in 1973.

Mr Hale (50) initially became interested in the case during his time as editor of the Matlock Mercury. Last year, he published a book, Town Without Pity, about his painstaking investigative work which eventually won Downing's freedom.

Now, the BBC is to re-create Don's campaign. Taking the starring role as Don Hale will be actor Trevor Eve, best known for his Shoestring TV series.

Don said: "I'm quite excited about the TV drama. I've been involved in co-writing the script and hopefully will also have a cameo role."

Don also disclosed there were tentative moves to make a film of Town Without Pity.

Don says the Americans have just bought the film rights of a second book, entitled The Wrong Body.

He's written a predominantly fictionalised account of a man jailed for killing his wife when, in fact, she was alive and well and living elsewhere.

Don's Town Without Pity has been shortlisted for the prestigious CWA Gold Dagger award for non-fiction.

It has already proved to be a best seller in hardback and is on the recommended reading lists at many major stores nationwide.