YOUNG film-makers with learning disabilities were given a taste of glamour at the glitzy premiere of their debut film.

The red carpet was rolled out for scores of people who attended the premiere of Witch Way? a collaboration between young people from inclusion charity Parasol, and Oxford film director Vicky Jewson, at the Malmaison Hotel in Oxford Castle on Monday.

The 10-minute film tells the story of a witch who owns a bed and breakfast and lures people lost in the woods back to her home to feed them sausages made out of children’s fingers.

The idea came from brainstorming sessions with Parasol’s members in November of last year, and the whole pro-ject was scripted, professionally cast and filmed by the young people, aged 13 to 20, within three months.

Ms Jewson, who promoted the premiere of her debut film Lady Godiva by persuading her sister Libby to ride naked through Oxford on horseback, said the premiere was the start of big things for the young people.

She said: “The project has been a great success.

“Tonight is about showing the finished work to people from the industry, but also a chance for family and friends to see what we’ve been working on for the past few months.

“We have been in talks with the Odeon, who have said they’re interested in showing it ahead of major releases in their Oxford cinemas.

“And we’re also in talks to try to sell it internationally to film and television companies.”

The project, which has been part-funded by the Government’s Department for Children Schools and Families, and Fusion Arts Centre, in Cowley, was set up so that people with learning disabilities could learn the skills to enable them to work in the main- stream film industry.

Now the most talented members of the project team will be hand picked by Ms Jewson and her co-director Rupert Whitaker to pen, direct and star in their own costume drama, which will be filmed later this year.