An Epsom filmmaker, who was bullied at school and went through corrective cleft lip surgery as a child, has been awarded the Inspire Mark by the London 2012 Olympic committee.

Gary Thomas, 39, says the idea for his latest project, The Dog and The Palace Film and Workshops, came to him in a dream, and has since been granted the Inspire mark by the London 2012 Inspire Programme which recognises innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The film is about a young boy who, inspired by watching the 2012 Olympic Games on television, writes to The Queen to say thank you sending her a statue of his little dog and follows the journey of the young boy as he persuades his family to visit London to celebrate the Games.

Mr Thomas said: "I was very excited about receiving the inspire mark, as the story of the film came to me in a dream.

“I was trying to figure out how I could actually make it happen and film it in the way I wanted, so to go from wondering how to get it made to getting recognised in this way is really something."

Seb Coe, chair of the London organising committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games added: “We want to use the power of the Games to inspire change.

“The Inspire programme is recognising the work our partners all round the UK are doing to help us achieve this vision now.

“I congratulate everyone involved in The Dog and The Palace Film and Workshops for securing the Inspire mark and wish you every success with your work.”

After a childhood spent in and out of hospital to correct a cleft palet, Mr Thomas began producing documentaries in 2007 after UnLtd, a charity which promotes social entrepreneurship, awarded him funding to buy his own camera.

He went on to produce short films selling one production, ‘Early one Summer’ to distributors and the Cannes Film Festival 2008.

For more information visit garythomas.co.uk