Life has started at 40 for Guiseley writer John Metcalfe.

The former sports correspondent, who covered matches for the Telegraph & Argus, had spent 25 years submitting film and television scripts without success.

But now - just after his 40th birthday - filming has started on a short film he has co-written.

The film, which runs for 12-and-a-half minutes, is set in 'no-man's land' during the First World War and is the graduation film of London International Film School director Edward Hicks. Once completed it is hoped to be shown at various film festivals throughout Europe.

Mr Metcalfe said: "I was on the verge of giving up on my dream - I have had so many knockbacks and disappointments.

"I had submitted scripts to agents, TV and production companies and while I had received plenty of encouragement and was shortlisted for a number of script-writing initiatives, nothing even came close to being made.

"But out of the blue I received a letter from Mr Hicks last Christmas saying he needed scripts to complete his course at film school.

"We had first met in 1987 when a script I had written about life in a Lake District boarding school had been selected for the Lloyds Bank National Screenwriting programme."

Mr Hicks, then a young actor, was assigned to Mr Metcalfe's project and they stayed in touch.

Mr Metcalfe, of Restmore Avenue, said: "Edward was anxious for his career to take a new direction and so signed up for a directors' course at the London International Film School, where he made a short film called Lost with actress Nerys Hughes, and was responsible for Robbie Williams's video for the recent Jeans for Genes campaign.

"We hope to continue working together and have a number of ideas for both short films and feature-length ones."