A POULTON writer has just premiered her award-winning film, and is now packing her bags to fly to Cannes.

Jayne Steel, pictured here, and writing partner Juliet McKoen's new film, "Mavis and the Mermaid," made its screen debut last Saturday (April 9) in Barrow-in-Furness after walking off with the Kodak Best Short Film Bafta.

The 20-minute film, which stars Eric Sykes and Sylvia Syms, follows the story of Mavis -- played by Alyx Petre-- a young girl who meets an old woman (Syms) who claims to be a mermaid.

Mavis becomes involved with the woman after telling her she has lost her tail when a fisherman, Eric Sykes, stole her shoes.

Mavis acts as a go-between for the mermaid and the sailor as she tries to get back the shoes so that the mermaid can return to the sea. Jayne, 38, has lived in Poulton for nine years and is a teacher of creative writing and English literature at Lancaster University

This is not the first script with which she has been involved.

Tide! and Stories of Sands were both co-written with Juliet and attracted several prestigious funding awards.

Now, with the Kodak award behind her, Jayne is taking her film to the Cannes Festival in May where it will be shown in a showcase of new European talent.

"Mavis and the Mermaid is kind of a shorter version of another film we have written called Mermaids and Money Troubles," said Jayne.

"We can use the film as a way of attracting bigger firms to help us get funding for making a full length feature.

"I can't believe it is happening actually. I'm very excited as I've never done anything like this before."

Mavis and the Mermaid is due to be shown soon at the Dukes Cinema in Lancaster, but the date is yet to be confirmed.