It was a town known for razor gangs, protection rackets and high-living gangsters.

The 1947 film version of Graham Greene's novel Brighton Rock gave the place an underworld glamour only the East End of the Sixties and the notorious Kray twins could later match.

But that was 53 years ago and the criminal world, like everything else, has changed.

So two aspiring film-makers have taken on the task of bringing a taste of modern gangster classics like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to Brighton.

Will Jewell and Steve Prior spent seven days filming a tongue-in-cheek heist movie called money to Burn last September.

In the opening scene an Albion shirt-wearing hoodlum and his mates walk past St Bartholo-mew's Church, in Ann Street, mimicking characters from the famous beginning of Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.

Will, 30, said: "We thought we'd get our weediest mate to try and look tough. The Albion shirt, like the whole film, has an ironic aspect.

The whole thing lasts only 15 minutes so there's no time for real character development. We like to joke around.

"But what is good is that we use scenes from around Brighton and Hove. The place has such a rich history of being involved in great films.

"Brighton Rock and Quadro-phenia were all largely made here."

Some of the locations chosen for Money to Burn were surprisingly effective.

The derelict Black Rock area next to Brighton Marina was used for the money-burning scene, which gives the film its name and the gang plots its raid on the Bank of England at the Saltdean Whitecliffs cafe.

Unlike the title suggests, Steve and Will's company, Swag Films, does not have cash in abundance.

The whole production cost just £3,000.

In it, four criminals plot a mass £20 note forgery using paper stolen from a low-security Bank of England paper store - actually a warehouse in Hove in the film.

Of course, it all goes wrong, but the comic twist in the tale is more subtle than most.

Steve, 29, said: "We had loads of help from people when we filmed. A lot of the extras are our mates and one pub landlord closed all morning to let us film a scene. It's surprising how generous everyone has been.

"There are also some really amazing places to film around here. Areas like North Laine have loads of character.

"This short film was only the start. What we want to do eventually is to make a feature-length film about true Brighton crimes. A study of antique knocker boys would be extremely interesting.

"The town still has this allure from some of the films made about it but it needs updating."

Will and Steve met when they were both shelf stacking, aged 16, at Sainsbury's in Lewes Road, Brighton, but took different career paths.

Will still works part-time as a planning officer for Lewes District Council and Steve as a video editor for a Polish TV company based in Kent.

They have always had an interest in film making but the professional ambition developed only a couple of years ago.

Will said: "A whole group of our friends moved away after we left Varndean Sixth Form and most of us have come back in the last couple of years.

"I did a course in film and got into it. When we were shelf stacking we had no intention of getting into films.

"Our lives have come full circle in the sense we have returned to our roots but they have moved on in terms of wanting to be in film.

"Hopefully, we can combine those two facets of ourselves to make a truly modern film about Brighton gangsters.

"If all else fails, we can still go back to shelf-stacking."

The film we be put on in St Ann's Well Gardens in Hove at 1pm on May 28 as part of the Brighton Festival Groovy Movies programme.

Brighton Rock will be shown on Channel 4 this Saturday at 3.50pm.