A short film based on the harrowing history of a Victorian baby killer is set to premiere at the Romford Horror Film Festival at the end of this month.

Written by Hampshire-based Jon Kent, 33, The Ogress is a 25-minute film that follows detective John Hayes as he investigates a number of missing children's cases.

The film is inspired by serial killer Amelia Dyer, who over a thirty-year period, is believed to have killed hundreds of babies through her work as a baby farmer.

Dubbed as the “the Ogress of Reading” Dyer was executed, aged 57, for the murder of a baby girl in the summer of 1896, according to Thames Valley Police.

Jon said: “I had never heard her name before but her whole story is unbelievable.

“I was searching for infamous serial killers and after researching I landed on Amelia Dyer and it instantly clicked with the story I wanted to tell.”

Filming in locations such as Fleet in Hampshire, Reading and just outside of Swindon, Jon hopes the film will inspire people to research the killer's history.

Promising that his film isn’t “too gory”, Jon said it is “more of a story with a pay off at the end”.

He added: “I also wanted to shine a light on the true story of Amelia Dyer because a lot of people don’t know and if people do their research on her they will see that many elements in my film reference the true events.”

As part of his research, he visited the Thames Valley Police Museum in Reading, where evidence of Dyer’s case is exhibited including the string she used to commit the crimes.

Speaking of the Romford festival, Jon said he was “thrilled” his film was included as he has heard “great things about it”.

He said: “I’m really excited to meet people, but also, to experience my film on the big screen will be the ultimate dream come true for me.”

The horror festival, which breaks away from the annual Romford Film Festival, will be held between February 25 and 27 at the Premiere Cinema in the Mercury Shopping Centre.

Jon’s film will be screened on Sunday, February 27 at 6.38pm.

A trailer of the film can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch