A LOCAL writer is celebrating after her words were immortalised in a new trail marking the cinematic past of a Hampshire town.

To mark the site of the Regal Theatre, Eastleigh’s first cinema, a series of decorative paving slabs have been laid along Regal Walk.

The slabs were inspired by the historical tragedy at Bishopstoke Junction, as researched by Eastleigh and District Local History Society, and each one was engraved with a section of the story.

But one part of the story was missing and locals were invited to come up with an ending to the story.

The winning submission came from Oakley resident Dorothy Collard, a member of Hamp-shire Writers’ Society, who submitted: “Bist and Clement wrestle levers. The train squeals! Stops. Passengers cheer. A film is born.”

A thrilled Dorothy visited Regal Walk to see the new paving slab in situ and explained that her inspiration came from a number of sources.

She said: “I was inspired by the shortest short story, attributed to Ernest Hemingway: ‘For sale: baby shoes, never worn’ and also by Mark Twain’s admission that it is very difficult to write briefly.

“It is said he once apologised, when submitting a short story, that he had not had time “to make it shorter.”

“In addition, recollections of travelling by steam trains in Africa – recalling the feel in your body of energy of the engines, the smell and taste of soot – spurred me on. I think that it looks really good.”

Lucy Mazdon, chair in film studies and head of the film department at the University of Southampton, helped judge the competition.

Lucy commented: “I liked Dorothy's entry as I thought she had captured the cinematic aspect of the story so cleverly. And I like a happy ending!”