YOUNGSTERS from Comet country have joined with top TV and film stars to make a special film. Cathy Tyson, who appeared in the film Mona Lisa with Bob Hoskins, and Danny Webb, recently seen in ITV drama Life Begins, have been on location in Hitchin and St

YOUNGSTERS from Comet country have joined with top TV and film stars to make a special film.

Cathy Tyson, who appeared in the film Mona Lisa with Bob Hoskins, and Danny Webb, recently seen in ITV drama Life Begins, have been on location in Hitchin and Stevenage shooting a short film, One of Us.

Pupils from Hitchin Boys' School, the Priory School in Hitchin and Highfield School in Letchworth GC got involved by making placards, building sets and making a documentary about the film.

Youngsters from the area also auditioned to act as extras.

The 12-minute film has been written by Stevenage-based writer Mark Straker, and uses a basketball match to discuss issues such as peer pressure, sexism, cultural identity and stereotypes.

Cathy Tyson said: "The foundations laid down for this project by Mark and his team have been brilliant.

"It has been such a pleasure to see such talented and energetic young people doings such diverse things in Hertfordshire."

Shooting will be completed by the end of April, and Mark hopes the film will be released before the end of the summer term.

It will be then taken around all secondary schools in North Herts, with members of the cast on hand to talk about the film and some of the issues it raises.

Mark is hoping to get it shown in local cinemas, and said that Channel 4 are also considering making the idea into a 90-minute drama.

He said the response from the young people involved in the film had been "fantastic".

He added: "They can't wait for it to be shown.