A cabbie plans to swap his driver’s seat for a director’s chair in a new career as a movie mogul.

David Crouch, of Halstead, has been driving a taxi for more than 25 years but found success as a writer with his debut novel about football fans.

Now the 49-year-old has turned The Island Apes into a script and is seeking funds to make an independent film with an established director.

The book, which delves into “football culture” and hooliganism, tells the story of six football fans who “firm up” to follow England at Euro 2004.

Mr Crouch said a social media buzz about the book, published in 2012, led to a film producer getting in touch.

Potential financiers can contact Mr Crouch at crouchuk@aol.com or on twitter at @TheIslandApes.