Eighties pop star and actress Clare Grogan swept into Portslade yesterday during filming of her new movie, The Penalty King.

The former lead singer of Altered Images, who launched her acting career in Gregory's Girl, plays Sandra, the mean boss of a social services disability department who presides over the three lead characters in the film.

She stars alongside Nick Bartlett, of Gangs Of New York fame, and Steve Sweeney, of Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels.

Clare, 41, who has also appeared on television in Father Ted, EastEnders and Doctors, said: "It is nice for me to play against type. It is good to get away from that."

The Penalty King tells the story of a man who loses his sight and becomes depressed because he can no longer play soccer.

When he moves from Yorkshire to Brighton a colleague realises his lack of sight does not prevent him from taking penalties and eventually he becomes his new pub side's star striker.

Chris Cook, who wrote The Penalty King, approached Clare about a role in his film two years ago and sent her the script.

She said: "I loved it. It tickled my funny bone. All my favourite movies involve comedy and tragedy and are very character driven. The Penalty King has all these elements.

"It is so difficult to get anything made in this country. Quite often I read scripts and quite often they never happen. I kept my fingers crossed this would work out for me and Chris."

The location for Clare's character's office is the former Flexer Sacks factory in Wellington Road, which is being developed into City Gateway.

The site has planning permission for a multi-million pound redevelopment to turn it into a media centre to include workshops, showrooms and a gym complex.

Major work has not started yet and when Chris saw the location he decided it would be a perfect setting for part of his film.

He is due to start filming there in November for two weeks and in February and March he will begin shooting the football scenes.

The film is a joint venture between Twin Track Films and Maverik Motion Pictures. It has secured support from companies such as Waitrose, JJB Sports and Asda in Hollingbury, which is supplying Clare's costume.