The life of a famous fossil hunter is edging closer to the big screen in what has been labelled as ‘the Poldark of Dorset.'

The life and career of Lyme Regis’ own Mary Anning could hit the big screen next summer after Lyme Regis Town Council gave a favourable response to a request for funding for a two-part feature film.

The film, which is partly complete, stars Jenny Agutter - of the Avengers, An American Werewolf in London and Call the Midwife - and is currently being filmed on location in Lyme Regis.

Director Sharon Sheehan is halfway through shooting the first of two-part epic about the ‘life and loves’ of the eminent palaeontologist.

Speaking of her inspiration behind the film, Ms Sheehan said: “Her story was inspired during my visits to Lyme Regis to fossil as a child. It always stayed with me. As a keen fossiller, I began researching and writing her story around the year 2000. My daughter was aged four at the time and we were fossilling in Charmouth.

“We found the most beautiful iron pyrites ammonite that day - the first for her of a myriad of finds. I said to her ‘who went fossil hunting in a dress?’ and she replied ‘Mary Anning.’ I was really inspired by this. Mary Anning went completely unrecognised and that’s awful.

“I started writing the script and sent it to Jenny Agutter who was completely transfixed and very attracted to the plight of Mary Anning, who was constantly plaguarised by men at that time and never got the credit she deserved.

“I find her fascinating and I’m amazed the film has not been made before.”

Ms Sheehan is appealing to local businesses and the community for help to get the film, which she hopes to complete by summer 2018, on screen.

Funding is needed to complete the first film, which will cover Mary Anning’s childhood and lead up to her spectacular discovery of the ichthyosaur.

With nine days of filming scheduled, £10,000 is needed for film stock and processing requirements.

The remaining £100,000 is required to complete the second film of the two part sequel, covering Mary Anning’s adulthood and her discoveries of the plesiosaur and the pterodactyl.

Lyme Regis Town Council’s tourism, community and publicity committee has approved a request for £5,000, subject to both West Dorset District Council and Dorset County Council offering ‘at least’ an equal amount of funding and approval at full council.

Ms Sheehan said: “We have had amazing support from the community and the town council is behind us.

“We want to champion Mary Anning – and Dorset - and put her on the map as one of the most prominent palaeontologists of all time.”