THOUSANDS of starstruck Bolton folk are battling to win acting roles in a Hollywood movie.

Last month we revealed that Gary Kurtz - the man behind such cinema blockbusters as Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back - is planning to shoot part of his next film in Bolton.

The multi-million pound picture will tell the true rags to riches life story of a former drug addict who spent months living rough in Deane.

Now the producers say they have been bombarded with letters from Bolton folk, who are desperate to appear on the big screen.

Yesterday Stephen Smith - on whose life the film will be based - said: "It is unbelievable. We have received more than 3000 letters from Bolton people applying to become extras in the film.

"Gary Kurtz and his team will reply to every letter to give everyone a fair chance before they choose who will appear in the film but this will take several weeks. Those selected for a final audition will be interviewed at a local hotel."

Both Mr Smith and the influential American film producer, who counts Steven Speilberg and George Lucas among his friends, are set to visit the town in coming weeks, to consider various film locations.

A screenplay is still being written for the film, which currently has a working title of 'Addict'. But plans are already being put in place to shoot some of the film on the streets of Deane, where Mr Smith lived rough for months as he battled drink and drug addiction.

He also spent time in Manchester, Oldham, Preston and Wigan during a spell wandering the country more than 20 years ago.

London-based Mr Kurtz and Mr Smith, who is now a businessman, based in Munich, plan to visit Bolton in the coming weeks.

British and European cash will fund the film which has a working budget of between eight and ten million pounds.

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