A FATHER and his sons hope film stardom is just around the corner.

Derek Smith and sons Jamie, 12, and Luke, ten, from Chester-le-Street, are in the final stages of a Disneyland Paris contest to find three people to star in the Disney film, Grim Grinning Ghosts.

Mr Smith, 47, the owner of a computer software company, said they entered by sending details of themselves to the Disneyland web site. They now have to beat four other challengers from Britain by collecting the most on-line votes by Saturday.

Mr Smith said: "We are the only ones from the North-East, so now we need as many people as possible vote for us."

The winners will fly to Disneyland for the European finals.

Acting is a family past-time. Jamie, a pupil at The Hermitage School and Luke, who goes to Newker Primary, are both members of the Gala Theatre's stage school in Durham. Jamie also attends Chester-le-Street Theatre Group.

Jamie and his dad are appearing in the production of Camelot which opens at the Gala on Tuesday.

To vote, visit the web site www.needmagic.co.uk and click on 'Meet the Cast.'