A former drug addict whose life story may be partly filmed on a York estate says he has had more than 3,000 replies to a plea for local people to act as extras in the production.

London-born Stephen Smith says he plans to use the Bell Farm estate, where he lived rough in the late 1970s, as a location during the filming of his autobiography Addict.

Gary Kurtz, the producer of American Graffiti and Star Wars, is working with Mr Smith on the project.

The author has also contacted other towns in the north of England, including Darlington, Manchester and Newcastle, suggesting filming may take place there. But he has insisted that York will definitely be featured in the production.

He said Mr Kurtz and his team would reply to every letter from would-be extras to give everyone a fair chance before the final choice is made, but this would take several weeks.

"Those selected for a final audition will be interviewed at a local hotel," he added.

Mr Smith said the respondents ranged from pensioners to young children, and included ex-junkies and the parents of addicts.

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