An award-winning young film-maker, who used to live in Thundersley, is hoping to copy Sam Mendes and win an Oscar.

Anne-Marie Newman, who studied media at Seevic College in Kiln Road, Benfleet, now lives in London.

On leaving she went to the University of Luton where she worked with two other young film makers, James Richings and Daniel Smith, to win the University's coveted JVC Professional Video Award for their horror thriller final year project called The Unmistakable Aroma of Custard.

They have also worked on a collection of short videos that were screened as part of this year's New York Film Festival.

Since leaving the university the trio have set up their own video and film production company called MachTen Ltd.

The company boasts a full compliment of digital cameras and editing facilities available to film television programmes or wedding videos.

Anne-Marie, 22, formerly of Kingshawes, Thundersley, said: "Since studying media at Sevic College I was inspired to make it my career goal to launch a company.

"Now that it is my full time job, I can't wait to bring a little bit of Thundersley to the Oscars someday. That's my goal."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.