PEOPLE from all over the world will be watching two of the latest videos made by Burnley's clergyman-film maker, the Rev Lawrie Adam.

His hard-hitting drugs documentary, The Devil's Candy, and a film about the church in modern society, The Challenge of Change, will be shown at the influential Christian European Film Festival in London in September.

The films have already made a big impact. The Devil's Candy, a powerful record of the horrors of drug addiction, is being used by drug agencies, the probation service and prisons across Britain.

And The Challenge of Change, which uses comedy drama and real-life stories to raise issues about the church's response to rapid change, is being shown in every church in the Diocese of Blackburn as well many churches in other areas.

"I'm really thrilled that these two films have been selected for the festival," said Mr Adam, who is video production co-ordinator for the diocese.

"It is an important showcase for distribution on TV channels across Europe."

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, told the Citizen: "The Challenge of Change is such a good video, on such an immediate topic, that we have taken the unprecedented step of buying a copy each parish in the diocese.

"It also good to know that Lawrie and his team have been able to make such an important contribution in the area of drug education."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.