ACTOR Steven Duffy was more used to treading the boards than walking the hills of Scotland with pal Iain Robertson.

But when the River City actor asked Steven to help him start his journey along the West Highland Way, the Saltcoats actor happily agreed.

“We first met when we filmed Small Faces 25 years ago and we have stayed pals ever since,” said Steven.

“I knew Iain was going to try and make a documentary about walking the West Highland Way and when he asked if I could walk the first 20 miles, I thought, well, I take the dog out walking, it should be okay.

“It was quite amazing, he filmed the whole thing on his phone then edited it and the finished show is brilliant.”

Steven has just filmed a short drama, The Bridge, created by and directed by Iain through his own production company, Stone Scissors Paper Productions and funded through an Indiegogo campaign.

Set in Glasgow it follows two characters played by Steven and Scottish actress Katy Murphy, who meet on a bridge in the dead of night and looks at the journey their chance encounter takes.

“Iain set up his production company and I was helping with things behind the scenes, when it came to finding a lead actor, he was struggling so I suggested I audition.” Explained Steven.

“Iain said he didn’t want to take advantage of our friendship so I was treated like any actor, I auditioned and then I was delighted that I got the part and to work with Katy Murphy, was just fantastic.

“We are all really proud of this film.”

Steven is part of Ayrshire’s Poetic Justice Productions along with friends Neil Smith and Helen Aitken and they have plans for an Edgar Allan Poe Festival in Irvine, hopefully later this year.

The American poet and horror story author lived in Irvine as a boy in 1815

From working with school children in the area through drama workshops, holding sessions about his writing with the ultimate goal of one day hosting a masquerade ball at Irvine’s Maritime Museum in the style of Poe’s Masque of the Red Death.

The company want to put Irvine on the map, similar to Whitby with its gothic tourism where thousands of Dracula fans flock to the seaside resort for festivals held twice a year.

Steven said: What we would ideally like is a festival that involves everyone in the community.”