Danny Boyle takes Oscar to social club

Slumdog Millionaire's Danny Boyle took along his Oscar when he visited his father's social club in his home town.

Crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the director as he held a news conference outside St Mary's Catholic Social Club in Radcliffe.

As he spoke to the media pack outside the red brick club, he said, "This is amazing. You expect this on the red carpet, but not at the Radcliffe club, no."

Boyle said the best director gong, which was carried in a blue bag to the club, had been kept on a shelf but had picked up a "bit of damage" from "taking it everywhere" and showing it to people.

He admitted he had come back to earth with a bump. Referring to people in his home-town, he joked, "Their attitude is 'How the bloody hell did someone like you win an academy award?'"

He said the film had "caught fire". "We are very proud of what we have done. We made the film in the right spirit and we treated everybody properly," Boyle added.

He revealed that he originally wanted to be a train driver and his mother had wanted him to be a priest.

Asked what was next for the director, Boyle said: "I have no idea. I've been promoting the film since September in America and I haven't had time to do any planning. But I'm looking forward to planning something."