And the educational mission of Headfirst's first venture took on a new, tragic meaning when a pupil at the school where they hoped to shoot scenes was stabbed to death.

Based in Golborne, Headfirst was formed by local lad Nicholas Crum and two fellow graduates of St Andrew's University, Naysun Carew and Rosie Dell, who teamed up because of their passionate hobby for the movies.

They have made student pieces already but Wondaland, which is now going into post-production, is their first as a fully fledged film company.

Filmed in and around Golborne it largely stars young actors from the EKA Casting Agency in Culcheth and is a an anti-knife culture short subject which they hope relevant charities will take up and show at schools and youth clubs.

When the team was discussing possible locations, Golborne High School was in the frame, but then last month its 15-year-old pupil John Marsh was fatally wounded in a knife attack in St Helens.

Nicholas said: "It was a terrible tragedy and of course, out of respect and taste, we decided not to use the school after that.

"But the death also served to highlight the sometimes fatal dangers of knife crime and we really hope that this film reaches a wide audience.

"The film centres on a 12-year-old girl called Syd, played by Maddy Hill, who gets drawn into that culture of carrying knives, supposedly for protection. Most of the youths are all mouth, but this sounding off can make an impression on younger people.

"She has a brother, who while protective of her, is also negatively influencing her. Things, as have happened in real life, go out of control and there is a stabbing.

"We want people to understand that rather than protecting yourself by carrying a knife you are actually heightening the danger.

"We are hoping to join forces with a couple of charities to use the film as an educational tool and take it round schools and youth groups alongside a documentary with the blunt figures, whilst also taking it to film festivals."

The team has spent a year persuading private investors to contribute to the costs of the production, including camera hire, while the lighting was provided by Leigh firm PK Lighting. Nicholas said the plan was to deliver the finished 10 to 15-minute film in February.

Other projects Headfirst are also hoping to bring off in the coming months include another short called Natalie and are working alongside Hong Kong director Julian Lee on a film about a cancer patient called Stoma.