He may be best known for creating record breaking pantos, but director Paul Hendy is also looking to expand into film.

Paul, who runs Evolution Pantomimes with his wife Emily, is working on a full length feature film about the life of Eric Morecambe, Mr Sunshine.

After creating a trailer for the film, which was partially shot at the Theatre Royal in Margate, he is now working on raising up to £2 million to get the whole film off the ground.

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Paul, who is currently working on the finishing touches to the script of Cinderella, which will be at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury this Christmas, said: "There is a lot of interest in it."

"I have to raise up to £2 million but I am a big believer in making things happen. It is quite a big thing to create, but I think there is an appetite for it.

"People still love Eric Morecambe and Morecambe and Wise. There is a real love for them."

His company Evolution creates pantomimes for theatres all over the country, and its show at the Canterbury theatre was seen by more than 100,000 people last year.

He said: "I love theatre but films are my passion and hobby if you like I have always wanted to make a film.

"Four years ago I did a play about Eric Morecambe and it won an Olivier for the script. Now I have the film rights for Mr Sunshine and it would be amazing to make it a reality."

The trailer was shot in Margate as Eric Morecambe married local woman Joan Bartlett there.

Paul added: "He was 58 when he died - he died young. It's hard to believe now."