COUNTLESS auditions for Soapstars and Popstars have been televised during the last couple of years but for people in Pendle there is yet another chance to become famous -- as a film star.

Aspiring actors will be hoping to fight off the competition on Sunday when auditions are held in Colne for the stars of a musical about the area.

Film writers and composers Pat Hagon, from Lincoln, and her son Richard, from Keighley, have written a script entitled In The Shadow of Pendle Hill which features the lives and trial of the Pendle Witches.

The film will be recorded between August 3 and 18 with a base at Barley Village Hall and anyone who is over 14 and will be available each day and evening between those dates can attend the auditions at Colne Ambulance Hall, in Market Place, this Sunday, from 10am to noon.

It will be made into a film which the couple will take around various counties across the country and will also be brought out on video, which local shops have already taken an interest in selling.

Pat said: "We will run it as a summer school.

"We have already got actors from the south involved and would like to equal the balance by getting people from Lancashire, particularly Pendle where the story is set. We have got four lead parts still up for grabs, including a leading lady and a romantic male lead, as well as smaller parts and chorus places.

"It is mainly adult singers we are looking for but anyone can come along to the auditions.

:There are about five child places at the most but it would have to be youngsters who are exceptional singers and have done acting work before or had drama lessons."

The film will feature Pendle Heritage Centre, Barley, the base of Pendle Hill and the trial scene will be filmed in Lancaster jail and dungeons.

Pat researched the script by spending time in Barley in 1996 and 1997 and a cast was brought to Barley Village Hall in 1998 to give a performance of the play.

People can bring along anything they want to sing to the auditions and Richard will accompany them on the keyboard. They will also be given a small piece to read to show off their acting skills.

Pat said: "It is a good strong musical and tells the story of the witches in a sympathetic but truthful way.

"It's always been at the back of our minds that it was too good just to leave on the shelf so we decided to make it in to a film."

The whole film is expected to cost around £20,000 to produce, with £10,000 of the funding already secured.

A further source of funding will be the summer school which will cost those chosen to take part £13 a day.