The Film Council, the Gov-ernment-backed funding body for British movies, has granted £38,500 for the development of Ledbury author John Mase-field's children's novel The Box of Delights into a movie.

The Christmas tale of a young boy's discovery of a magical land via a mysterious puzzle box was previously adapted for television by the BBC in 1984.

The film, still at the development stage, will be produced by London based company 50 Cannon.