A cash boost awaiting Yorkshire's fledgling interactive media and film industry was today described by one of York's top film producers as "welcome, but a drop in the ocean."

Chris Wood, who has his own York-based film and video company, W3KTS, said it was good news that Yorkshire Forward had pledged £3 million to develop production facilities, research and development and support for skills and business development - the biggest investment of its kind by any of Britain's regional development agencies.

He welcomed the fact that funding would now attract another £1.55 million from Europe for Screen Yorkshire, the region's new film and media industry body.

But he said: "It is a drop in the ocean. Unless there is a centralised film industry in Yorkshire then people outside will use whatever terrific talent there is here.

"But I am encouraged that at last people are thinking about filmmakers here. It is seed money and if a start is necessary, this could be it."

Meanwhile, he says, too many professional film makers will continue to leave Yorkshire for Pinewood and Hollywood.

The Yorkshire region has been home to international film successes in recent years such as Little Voice, some of the UK's most popular dramas such as The Royal, A Touch Of Frost, Fat Friends, At Home With The Braithwaites and Emmerdale and computer games companies such as Revolution Software in York.

It is served by two main television producers, Yorkshire Television, employing more than 1,000 people and contributing £85million to the regional economy and the BBC, which employs 400 people.

The Communications Bill going through Parliament will set quotas for TV production in the regions which will further support industry development in Yorkshire and attract potential investment.

Over the next three years, Screen Yorkshire aims to create or safeguard more than 600 jobs, and attract £3 million in private sector finance.

It will target support for businesses operating in the film and media sector, including access to the latest production equipment, specialist and technical support services and networking capacity across the main existing media production centres in York, Leeds, Sheffield, Huddersfield, Bradford and Hull.

Next month, Yorkshire Forward and Screen Yorkshire together with the trade association PACT will showcase the region's independent television producers at Channel 4, celebrating Yorkshire's talent and helping bring more national television business to the region.

Richard Gregory, Yorkshire Forward's deputy chairman and former managing director of YTV, said Screen Yorkshire had a vital role to play in industry development working together with the RDA.

"This funding will help new, small and expanding companies; support freelances and help attract companies to expand or relocate to the region as well as promoting international film production here."

Updated: 09:43 Tuesday, April 22, 2003