FILM star Mel Gibson is being pressed into the cause of Scots

independence in a leaflet campaign based on his role as William Wallace

in the film Braveheart, which has its European premiere at Stirling on

Sunday.

His picture appears on a leaflet which SNP activists will distribute

outside screenings of the film, proclaiming that ''independence isn't

just history''.

The star's photograph is central to the SNP handbill, gazing out from

the leaflet in a plea: ''Independence -- we need it more than ever.''

The party made it clear yesterday that it was not advocating the

broadsword as a way forward, pointing to its wording in the cinema

handbill: ''Today it's not just bravehearts who choose independence --

it's also wise heads, and they use the ballot box.''

The SNP plans to distribute the leaflet outside cinemas all over

Scotland to build on the sentiment generated by the Hollywood treatment

of the patriotic hero.

They have even taken the precaution of making use of a specific

photograph of Mel Gibson in the central role which is not copyright of

the film-makers themselves.

However, SNP chief executive Michael Russell said yesterday that he

expected no intervention from the film-makers, as party canvassers were

planning to hand out the leaflets around screenings without making

trouble.