A new film about the early life of former Beatle John Lennon has been given a grant by the UK Film Council.

Nowhere Boy, which was written by Lennon’s half-sister, is being adapted for the big screen by Matt Greenhalgh.

Greenhalgh, who was responsible for the critically acclaimed Ian Curtis biopic Control, said Julia Baird’s book Imagine This: Growing Up With My Brother John Lennon had “illuminated” his image of the former Beatle.

"I could see the drama and film immediately - the women in his life, the men who weren't, the birth of rock and roll, all imposing on a brilliantly complicated adolescent mind," he said.

Nowhere Boy is one of seven films to be granted funding by the council. It will receive £35,500 of a £322,000 purse which is comprised of National Lottery money.

(by Jason Gregory)