COMPOSER and musician John Anthony has made it big almost 30 years after penning a tune and it's all thanks to his wife's taste in films.

Jean (58) was watching The Full Monty when she recognised a piece of music as one her husband had composed in the 1970s.

The Whitefield couple contacted the Performing Right Society and, after some research, they were told an administrative error meant that someone else had been paid royalties for the tune Time For Romance.

The pair later learned the instrumental piece had also been used in other films such as Jackie Brown, and was set to feature in the new Disney hit, Monsters Inc, which released this weekend. For almost three decades, the tune had been registered to John, but another composer with a song carrying the same title had been receiving royalties. The shock news resulted in a substantial undisclosed payout, which has been reported to be about £100,000, and royalty payments are set to continue following the predicted success of Monsters Inc.

Trying to take in all the instant media attention, John (60), said: "This is just the beginning. It has been very much a welcome, albeit unexpected, shock. This week has been so busy and I was on GMTV the other day.

"It just shows that you should never give up. I have been playing someone else's music for 30 years just to survive and now people are wanting to hear my own music."

John started out in the music business in 1963 and by the time he wrote Time For Romance, he was established in recording for BBC radio programmes with stars such as Ken Dodd and Tommy Cooper.

The track was recorded for a library collection which could be used for background music.

John, who plays guitar, went on to work theatre and variety clubs in the North West and has travelled abroad entertaining audiences to earn a modest living.

He is now in semi-retired, but the success of Time For Romance has lured him back into the studio.

John said: "As a result of this, I have been asked to put together a new CD of originals. There are around 20 tunes on there so far and I have started writing again. It has certainly sparked new interest."

A spokesman for the Performing Right Society said: "We are delighted that this matter has been sorted.

"It is quite an inspirational story, as Mr Anthony has started writing music again after so long."