A filmmaker has scooped a huge distribution deal after making a horror film with a £12,000 budget.

Warren Dudley juggled his life as a web designer, print worker and dad to direct a horror film which is wowing critics and will now go on sale across the country.

The 42-year-old filmed The Cutting Room at Newhaven Fort and in Seaford using actors from Brighton Academy and the movie is being released in 840 Tesco stores, will be in the HMV main chart and it will be on Amazon for online shoppers.

Mr Dudley, who lives in Seaford, is a former pupil of Tideway School in Newhaven.

He said: “In Newhaven Fort we have a quite brilliant location for a horror movie on our doorstep.

“I remember visiting the tunnels up there when I was a child and being really frightened. Staff at the fort were really helpful in making the two week shoot possible and believe me, filming in those tunnels at night is not for the faint hearted.”

Members of Brighton Film School were also part of the crew.

The film follows college students Raz, Charlie and Jess, who are about to start work on their end of year media studies project.

A recent wave of bullying and the disappearance of two girls lead the group to an abandoned army barracks deep in the forest surrounding the college.

What they find there is a terrifying labyrinth of tunnels from which there seems no escape.

Film critics are giving The Cutting Room the thumbs up and it is getting offers from US distribution companies.

Mr Dudley has been involved in other television and film projects including a stint at Brighton based Ricochet TV.

His other recent writing work includes a feature film called The Bromley Boys, a football memoir starring Alan Davies and Martine McCutcheon which goes into production this year.

The Cutting Room was mostly financed by executive producer John Herbert, the brother of horror writer James Herbert. John’s son TJ is also a producer and appears in the film alongside Parry Glasspool, who is now a star of television soap opera Hollyoaks.

Louisa Adams, Mkaya Carrigan and Imogen-Rose Crew, from the Brighton Academy, also appear in the movie.

The Cutting Room is certificate 15 and is out on DVD on Monday.