SUCCESSFUL film and video company Atlas Films has just opened new studios for business in Blakeney High Street.

Brightly-painted signs mark their presence in what used to be a second hand and antique furniture shop, and before that a family butcher.

This gives a visible face to a company that is already achieving great success producing high quality videos for advertising, promotion, training or demonstrations on low budgets compared with London film production houses.

Behind it is a family firm consisting of managing director and cameraman Graham Evans, daughter and marketing director/editor Louisa Ballinger, her husband Gary, who is production coordinator, and Kathy Evans, company secretary.

Graham had been enthusiastic about film and TV since boyhood.

"I was lucky enough to train with a former BBC cameraman – he is now 80 – so learned such a lot," he said – they formerly operated from premises next door which is also their home.

Louisa adds that they have invested in the very latest equipment for the new studios, while the whole family has been converting the shop to give editing suites and studio space.

"We have been highly praised for our work, and many clients wonder how we can manage for the price we charge after they have been given London prices."

Their client list includes pharmaceuticals firm Johnson and Johnson, Business Link, Gloucestershire Health Authority and Coldseal Windows, and they received great acclaim at the recent Small Business Exhibition at Olympia.

'Stars' featuring in their work include snooker player Steve Davis, TV doctor Mark Porter and David Beames of Heartbeat.

"We have lived in Blakeney for the last ten years and have watched shop after shop close," said Louisa.

"We are pleased to be bringing some life back into the town and are receiving a very warm welcome from our neighbours."