ONCE upon a time in the West ? the South West ? a remarkable film-making team brought the Spaghetti Western to Dartmoor and scooped an unusual prize.

The new film by Belstone based film director H Chillowe-Stroapper and producer Horatio P Chewsperll had its premiere at Belstone village hall recently. And although Fools Gold may have been overlooked at the recent Oscars, the discerning Dartmoor audience were thrilled by the movie.

The film was given its premiere at the pre-Doodles Awards evening presented at the village hall as part of a sponsored aid programme assisting the premises.

Fools Gold was the inaugural winner of the Doodles Award ?Drama out on Dartmoor, Locations en-site.

With a cast of several, the moody masterpiece extended the influence of the spaghetti western to Belstone, Cleave and far beyond any location Sergio Leone would have dreamed of.

Presenting the evening, Chris Walpole explained the influences that had compelled the film-makers to create their emotional masterpiece out on the moor and some of the tricks of filming cowboy scenes.

When compere Chris revealed that Horatio P Chewsperll and H Chillowe-Stroapper were, in fact, none other than himself, the audience roared their approval.

With Belstone?s silver screen secret revealed it was a satisfied audience that slid into their saddles and set out for home, leaving Chris starting to consider Taw Marsh for an epic on Custer?s last stand.