FILM boss Gary Smith's company is set for growth.

The former QEGS pupil's Winchester Entertainment business told shareholders at the annual general meeting that prospects for the future were encouraging.

"Overall, the company is now poised to take the next step in its development, which is to expand the ways in which it exploits its rights," said the company.

The company's latest television project is a classic property based upon the internationally known children's song "The Wheels on the Bus".

"The animation looks excellent and we believe that this series has the potential to become a classic property around the world.

"We have secured the services of Dawn French for the voice-over and narration."

Another series, The Snow Children, which was co-produced with TV2 of Norway, is nearing completion. Winchester's first split-rights film, Heartbreakers, a $50m budget comedy starring Gene Hackman and Sigourney Weaver, has completed production.

MGM intends to release the film in the United States in the first quarter of 2001 on at least 1500 screens. Winchester has sold the film to Germany, France, Benelux, Spain and the UK and will launch a strong marketing

campaign at the forthcoming London Screenings and MIFED in October to sell the film to the rest of the world.

"We expect to secure sales rights in several other major U.S. films, which should commence production during the next six months," said the firm.

Gary moved into the film industry from accountancy, but his first business was Kenyon's Bakery in Blackburn, which he bought from the receivers.