The short video by BBC producer Martin Kemp sees two Barnstaple men visit Mannings Pit and recite a poem on the epic battle for control of their childhood playground.

A new Wild West-themed short film recounts the tail of a 'great battle' in Barnstaple.

The Battle of Mannings Pit has been produced by BBC producer and director Martin Kemp, one of the campaingers trying to save the Barnstaple beauty spot.

Martin, who last year created The Magic of Mannings Pit, made the film ahead of a special exhibition at Barnstaple Museum.

In it, cousins Brian and John Norman recite a poem filled with memories of an epic battle for control of their 1940s childhood playground.

The poem was written by Barnstaple-born Brian, 81, who remembers the battle between the boys of Pilton and Bradiford.

Martin said: "I've been aware of Brian's poem for a while now and of course his cousin John featured in my original film.

"John then told me that Brian was brought up in the house next door to where I know live in Pilton.

"A few people around Pilton have read the poem but otherwise it hasn't reached a big audience.

"Yet it evokes so many images of what childhood must have been like back then, just a few years after the war, when Manning's Pit was the playground of local children.

"I felt I really had to make an effort to capture it."

Martin said in talking to Brian and John, he found out their great treat in those days was Saturday Morning Cinema Club.

He felt they were inspired by the spirit of their Hollywood cowboy heroes when fighting the 'heroic' battles.

"Brian told me that the Bradiford and Pilton boys were all best mates in school and sat next to each other in class," said Martin.

"But when it came to Manning's Pit both groups felt it was their home territory.

"John still lives in Pilton and visits Manning's Pit often.

"Brian now lives in Braunton so it was the first time he'd been back in some time.

"The first thing he said to me when we walked into the fields was 'I wish I brought my fishing net and bow and arrows'."

The movie will be officially launched at the museum today (Saturday) as part of an exhibition on Mannings Pit, but you can watch it above.