HIS film for The Press’s Live Now Drive Later campaign has helped deter thousands of teenagers across Britain from joy-riding.

Now Christopher David is to create a new film for our York Means Business campaign in a bid to help attract vital investment – and new jobs – to the city.

The film will show businessmen why they should invest in York and relocate their companies to the city, and also explain why it is a great place for staff to live.

It will provide fresh ammunition for the inward investment board for York and North Yorkshire, york-england.com, in its continuing battle to attract new employment.

“I have no doubt that the film will become an invaluable tool in raising the profile of York and highlighting its attractiveness as a business location,” said the agency’s chief executive Denise Stuart, who will be able to send the DVD out to any businesses considering moving to the region.

Christopher said today that his firm, Flash Frame Productions, would be filming over the summer with the aim of launching the film – which would be available on both DVD and online – by September.

He said he was backing York Means Business because, like Live Now Drive Later, it was something he passionately believed in.

“York is a brilliant place to work, live and play,” he said. “It has so many things to offer – good transport and communications, great schools and housing, and with the coast just an hour’s drive away.

“I was brought up in York and then moved away, but came back – even though I could live anywhere with my job – because it is such a great city.

“Many decisions are taken because of how people feel in their hearts about something, rather than as a result of a cold rational decision.

“I want the film to appeal not only to the chief executive considering moving his business here but also to his wife, who will be concerned about the environment in which the family will be living – such as the schools and the shops.”

Mrs Stuart said: “We are very excited to be working with The Press and Flash Frame on this film project and the York Means Business campaign as a whole.

“We will be approaching businesses and individuals over the next few weeks to build the ‘cast’ for the film, asking those approached to share their experiences and the benefits of locating in York with others.”

Council leader Andrew Waller said he was very supportive of a film to back up the York Means Business campaign, as it would get the message out about the strengths of the city in a highly visual way – “essential in this day and age”.

He said: “This will, I am sure, be a good way to draw even more people into supporting the York economy at a time when we need to use all the opportunities and advantages that we can.

“It is a very competitive world out there and we cannot afford to be complacent.”