A CANCER patient who was determined not to give in to the dreaded disease is to celebrate his return to health with an appearance on the silver screen.

Elwyn Woolfenden, 59, has also battled against multiple sclerosis and diabetes and has been treated at Blackburn Royal Infirmary for the past six months.

He was spotted for the role in the new film after a director saw a picture of him in his favourite get-up of smoking cap and jacket and monocle.

The director was working on a documentary about the new Hollywood film Bollywood Queen, which stars Blackburn's own Lovejoy actor Ian McShane and is due out at the end of this year.

Elwyn's daughter Helen was making the costumes for the film.

The director immediately asked Helen if Elwyn would be in his next feature film, as yet untitled, which will start filming in London in the spring next year.

Elwyn, of Moor Lane, Padiham, said he owes his new career to staff at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, who have treated him for Hodgkin's Disease, a cancer of the lymphatic glands, for the past six months. Their positive outlook helped him beat the deadly disease, he said.

"I cannot thank them enough," he said. "They have worked miracles with me and they have been absolutely wonderful. I know they got three stars in the recent performance tables, but I would give them 10 stars, or 100. They are absolutely brilliant."

He is now set to start a 17-week course of radiotherapy at Preston, before, he expects, being given a clean bill of health.

Colourful character Elwyn, said he had also appeared as an extra in two other films in the past, admitted fighting cancer had not been easy.

"It has been really hard. If it wasn't for the doctors I wouldn't be here, but they tell me now when I have finished my radium I will be alright.

"I believe the success to beating cancer is to be positive and to put your faith in the doctors and they will help you. If they told me to do something, I will do it. It is their positive attitude which has cured me and kept me going."

Elwyn, who has battled with Multiple Sclerosis for the past 14 years, discovered a lump six months ago, and was operated on at Blackburn within two days. He had also beaten cancer once before two years previously.

He plans to attend the premiere of the film at the end of next year with his daughter Helen. A top costume maker and designer, she made the smoking caps for her father when he lost his hair through chemotherapy.

Helen said: "The director saw a picture of dad in his smoking jacket and said 'I must have him in my next film. Do you think he'd want to?' She just thought he was such a character."

Elwyn said he owed his top treatment to Dr David Newsome at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Dr Naj Shaika and all the staff and nurses at the hospital, as well as his Padiham GP. He said that members of Padiham Rotary Club had also been very supportive.