AN Elvis fan on a mission to prove he is the King of impersonators has got one step closer to his hero by recording from Graceland for a new DVD.

The DVD, Promised Land, shows Steve Preston, from Haslingden, as Elvis driving through the gates of Graceland and crossing the Mississippi Bridge, before spending the day recording at the Sun Studio, where Presley recorded many of his classic hits.

And after around four years of planning, the finished DVD, produced and manufactured by KLS Digital Media in Burnley, will be ready in time to mark Elvis' birthday on January 8.

Then. the 43-year-old will return to East Lancashire to play Blackburn's Thwaites Empire Theatre.

Steve wanted his DVD, which is just over three minutes long, to recreate a typical day in the life of Elvis and even used the same effects Elvis did to achieve realistic footage.

And as well as being used as promotional disc to send to anyone who is thinking of booking him, Steve, who is the only Elvis tribute to appear in front of the Queen in The Royal Command Performance, will also have copies available at shows.

He said: "I wanted to portray Elvis as he would spend many of his days.

"With opening scenes leaving Graceland and filming at the Sun studios, we then split the screens for the footage of me in rehearsals and in concert.

"Set to the soundtrack The Promised Land, the closing scenes show me going back through the gates of Graceland as if going home after a day's work.

"The whole experience was amazing and the more we filmed the better the footage got.

"Everything just started to fit like a jigsaw and we were able to recreate that real Presley magic.

"First and foremost I am an Elvis fan and to be able to get as close to him as this was an amazing experience.

"I felt first hand what it was like to leave Graceland for rehearsals and recording at the Sun Studio and felt really close to understanding more about Elvis as a man.

"If he could see the DVD I am sure he would be impressed as we have really captured what he is about. If you are a true Elvis fan then it really doesn't need explaining."

l For more information or tickets for Steve's Elvis in Concert show to mark Elvis' birthday on Sunday, call the Thwaites Empire Theatre Box Office on 01254 680137.