HE IS a legendary Hollywood star with dozens of films to his name, fans across the world and a huge Beverley Hills mansion.

But one thing is annoying him. The film legend knows little about the history of his family in his mother's hometown -- Horwich.

Now Glenn Ford, who played Clark Kent's father in Superman, is trying to find out more about his mother Hannah's early life and establish why she left England to start a new life in Canada when she was only seven.

Ford is trying to trace his family tree and discover more about his grandparents and their lives in Horwich. All he knows is that his grandmother was called J Wood.

He is trying to establish the whereabouts of his niece Doreen Birbeck who he believes will hold the key to his quest.

The 86-year-old star is particularly puzzled about the reasons why his mother left her family to start a new life in Quebec at such a young age. She did not meet her younger brother and sister -- who were born after she left the UK -- until 1951 when Glenn brought her to London for a first reunion with her family.

The Ford family believe Hannah left this country with two people called Carolyn Pincombe and Sam Mitchell.

His mother eventually settled in Santa Monica, California, where Glenn went to high school.

His breakthrough came in 1939 when he appeared in the film Heaven With a Barbed Wire Fence. It caught the eye of movie executives and Ford went on to star in such highly regarded films as Deperadoes, The Big Heat, Blackboard Jungle, The Money Trap, Santee and Superman.

His son, Peter, said: "My dad really wants to know who his grandparents were and he is keen to talk to Doreen Birbeck. She may be the only one who knows. It would be the last piece of the jigsaw because then we may be able to work out why his mother left England." Peter, who is married to Lynda and has three children, Eleonor, aged 16, 26-year-old Ubrey and Ryan aged 18. The family lives with his father in a five million dollar mansion in Beverley Hills.

The 56-year-old used to accompany his father on his trips to England to meet his relatives. But Ford senior never asked for the answers to the questions which now trouble him.

Peter is currently writing his father's biography and says the information is vital.

The Fords' biggest reunion was in 1969 at the BBC studios in Manchester. Ford was in Britain to film a TV series called Personal Cinema but he had no time to travel to Horwich so the BBC organised a party for the family at its northern headquarters.

The actor celebrated the reunion with his mother's brothers and sister -- Mrs Dorothy Harris, Mr Sam Wood and Mr Edward Wood. With them were their families and Glenn's niece, Mrs Birbeck.

The actor's mother, then aged 78, did not make the trip but the BBC organised a telephone link to Hollywood enabling her to speak to her family.

Can you help Glenn to trace his niece? Telephone the newsdesk on 01204 537270.