WHEN you think of boxing blockbusters titles like Rocky and Raging Bull immediately spring to mind.

But a Baxenden script writer is hoping his ringside drama could be a knockout with the punters after it was premiered in Los Angeles.

By day, Stephen Turner, 27, works as a civil servant for the Department of Works and Pensions based at their Accrington offices off Eastgate.

But the rest of the time he pursues his dream of becoming a movie scriptwriter - and has already written nine scripts in the past few years.

Of these, three are for short films while six are for feature-length movies.

And his latest effort, the script for a 30-minute film entitled La Boxer, about a French fighter named Michael has been wowing audiences since it was premiered this month.

Stephen of Hollins Lane, Baxenden, said: "In the past I have written scripts in about three weeks, but that is exceptional. In this case, it took about 12 months to write.

"It was filmed by a friend of mine Raj Pathak who is from Nottingham and we are hoping word will get around about it.

"We funded it ourselves and invited some industry people along to see it.

"Now that's happened hopefully it will make its way on to the festival circuit."

Stephen said he hoped the film would prove to be a stepping stone towards realising his dream of working as a full-time scriptwriter.

He said: "The main character of the film is interesting as he is quite troubled.

"He is beset by all kinds of doubts about himself which is what gives him depth.

"The thing is that he's not just an aggressive fighter, he is like a real person with real-life problems.

"That's what I found interesting to write about."

To date Stephen has focused mainly on the writing side, but says he may soon get behind the camera himself to do a bit of directing.

He said: "I play in a punk band called Death of a Salesman and I have considered buying a camera myself to shoot some music videos as that would be quite fun.

"I know in the long run I want to work as a scriptwriter and hopefully what I'm doing will help me achieve that."

Stephen's next milestone is a short film entitled Piece by Piece, a drugs and guns awareness script, which is to premiere in Nottingham in July.

It will also be shown in schools and selected cinemas nationwide.