A NORTH Yorkshire businessman reckons he has a sure-fire success on his hands in backing an actor's movie dream.

A Harrogate store is the first to invest in a tale about a Yorkshire cowboy who is seeking to become the fastest draw in the West - the West Riding, that is.

Terry Dixon, general manager of the To Catch A Dream beds and bedroom store in Montpellier Walk, decided to support the film, Dreamcatcher, after hearing its author, actor Ken Kitson, on the radio.

Ken, who has a long list of theatre, film and TV appearances to his name, including parts in the films Brassed Off and When Saturday Comes, which were both shot on location in Yorkshire, has spent seven years working on his script.

It tells the story of Will Case, an unemployed Bradford divorcee disillusioned with society who decides to start living by the romanticised code of the West, dressing as a cowboy and taking part in quick draw competitions.

Ken has won the backing of several well-known television actors who want to be involved, and experienced director Tim Dowd.

Two names from the music industry have also given support - Brian Bennett, formerly the drummer with The Shadows who has several film scores to his credit, and Chris Norman, former lead singer with Bradford group Smokie, who has written the theme song. Ken, who lives near Bradford and runs a drama class for local people, has an initial target of raising £50,000 development money. In his quest to raise the £2 million needed for the film he is guaranteeing backers a 50 per cent return on their investment, a minimum of £1,000 to be repaid, on the day it starts shooting.

PICTURE: PARDNERS: Actor and film writer Ken Kitson with Terry Dixon, the North Yorkshire businessman who is backing his film idea