A FLEDGLING filmmaker is travelling from John O’Groats to Land’s End using only local buses as part of a short documentary he is making.

Swanage-born Simeon Costello will embark on his epic journey on July 4, boarding a total of 36 buses to get from one end of the country to another.

The 20-year-old, who now lives in Exeter, is making Bus Stories as part of art venue Exeter Phoenix’s Devon Documentary Short Commission. It will premiere at the Two Short Nights Film Festival.

Simeon launched a crowdfunding page to help fund his documentary in the hope of obtaining £2,000 worth of pledges.

With just under 24 hours left to reach his fundraising goal, he's managed to achieve over £1,900.

Simeon will be joined by his friend and cinematographer Scott Stevens for the project, which aims to find out why people choose to use buses over trains and coaches and how changes to bus services affect people.

“I don’t drive so I spend a lot of time on public transport,” Simeon said. “At first, I didn’t really see this journey as a film idea, more as something a student would do on a gap year.

“I applied for a grant from Exeter Phoenix, which commissions new work from filmmakers. We had a research meeting at the start of the year and planned our route – we just need to double check summer timetables and make any adjustments.

“If all goes to plan, we’ll be taking 36 buses, although I initially thought it would be closer to 100. It will take about five days to get from John O’Groats to Land’s End.”

He has already received support from campaigns such as Save Our Buses and hopes some members will join him for part of his journey.

“One thing I want to get out of this documentary is finding out why we need the public transport industry.

“As part of that, I’ll be interviewing people on the bus and at stations and finding out what their story is.

“I’m hoping to hear some cool and funny anecdotes from people along the way,” he added.

Although Simeon expects to find himself “in the middle of nowhere” along his journey, he has prepared a list of emergency contacts from across the country in case he ends up missing a bus.

“Bus Stories is ambitious. We’re taking a lot of risks and will face many challenges along the way.

“We could run out of batteries, SD cards, or get stranded somewhere, but we’re putting a lot of measures in place to avoid any of these things happening.”

To make a pledge towards Bus Stories, or to find out more, visit kickstarter.com/projects/simeoncostello/bus-stories-john-ogroats-to-lands-end