Academy Award-winner Colin Welland has written Tower, a dramatisation of the true story of embattled South Wales miners, for the UK's Working Title Films, Ireland's David P Kelly Productions and director Marc Evans.

The feature, budgeted at roughly $10m, follows the 1994 story of the last 239 miners at the last deep mine in South Wales who defy Government plans to close the Tower colliery. Led by union leader Tyrone O'Sullivan, they set up TEBO - short for Tower Employees Buy-Out - to save their mine.

Welland picked up an Oscar for 1981's Chariots Of Fire. Along with being a TV and film actor with credits including Kes, he wrote features such as A Dry White Season and War Of The Buttons. Evans' credits include Resurrection Man and House Of America.

Working Title's Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce with David Kelly, whose credits include Mad About Mambo. Shooting is expected for spring next year.

"The story of the TEBO miners touched a nation," said Kelly. "In Colin's script, I believe we have found a film property which will touch the nation anew and show that the courage and conviction of ordinary people can win against incredible odds."