THE producer of a historical film chronicling the birth of heavy industry on Teesside is busy promoting the epic A Century in Stone.

Using re-enactment, virtual reality, rare archive footage and interviews with the last of the Eston miners, the film provides an insight to a forgotten industry.

It features the discovery of ironstone in the Eston hills and likened to a scene out of the American West. Consequently, the settlement that was established in Cleveland was colloquially called California.

A display board listing the names of workers who lost their lives down the mines stands alongside a screening of the film at the Mall, formerly the Cleveland Centre, this week.

Filmmaker Craig Hornby has been overwhelmed by the project's continued success and believes the launch of the DVD will create yet another audience.

He said: "We have sold over 3,500 copies of the film in just over three weeks - it has been incredible. This is a film about Teesside's history dealing with genuine Teesside stories.

"The DVD comes out in April and in the summer I am going to Sydney to promote the film. Hopefully, that will open up the story to a whole new audience."

Mr Hornby will be available throughout the week to sign copies of the video and pictures used in the production.

Published: 05/01/2004