007 director aspires to new heights

Roger Spottiswoode, the English director of the latest 007 film, Tomorrow Never Dies, is preparing to make a pounds 13m film about the battle to build Salisbury Cathedral's immense spire.

The film, based on William Golding's Sixties novel, The Spire, will tell the story of the cathedral's 14th-century dean who is obsessed with building a spire for the greater glory of God. Sir Anthony Hopkins was originally cast as the Dean, but became unavailable and Spottiswoode is looking for another British actor to replace him. The as yet untitled movie, to be set in 1325, will be part-funded by pounds 1m of National Lottery money.