THE Boy David, the Peruvian whose face was rebuilt by a plastic surgeon, returned to Glasgow last night for the Scottish preview of a film of his life.

Spanning Peru, Spain, Britain and the US, The Boy David Story is narrated by Desmond Wilcox, the journalist and late husband of Esther Rantzen, the television

presenter.

His series of award-winning documentaries, made between 1980 and 1999, has been woven together to form a 95-minute film. It tells the life story of David, from the time he was found with a deformed face in the Amazonian jungle.

David, now 28, said ''It's a great story about my life and has been wonderfully edited and directed.

''It's an inspirational story and I hope people see it and think: 'I can challenge obstacles. I can do that, I can be a new person - what can I do to change my life?'''

The film was shown at the UGC cinema in Glasgow last night.

He added: ''Glasgow is where my heart is. It is my home and it is great to be back.''

The story of David Lopez Jackson began in 1977 when he was brought to the city by Ian Jackson, a plastic surgeon.

As a youngster, David endured more than 100 operations, the majority of which were performed at the city's Canniesburn Hospital.

David's progress was continually reported by Mr Wilcox after the broadcaster's first documentary about him.

Now an accomplished artist, who plans to have five more operations, David said: ''I am very proud of my history, but now I want to move on. I want to be known as something other than The Boy David.''

Born into a tribe of Campa Indians in the jungle, David now plans to carve out a career in the entertainment industry.

However, life looked like completely different for him when, soon after his birth, an infection ate away his face and his tribe, unable to treat him, gave him to a hospital in Lima, the country's capital. He remained there until Martine Schopfer, a Swiss aid worker, found him at the age of four.

She also found Ian Jackson, who was visiting from Scotland, and persuaded him to take on the challenge of rebuilding David's face.

On his arrival in Scotland David captured the heart of Marjorie, Ian Jackson's wife

She described him as ''a curious sight'', but after a tortuous emotional process and a gruelling bureaucratic struggle the Jacksons adopted David.

David now lives in Los Angeles. Nibras Abboud, 31, a student friend who shares a home with him, accompanied him to Scotland to promote the film.

Mr Abboud said: ''We all know about the film, Braveheart. Scotland has its very own braveheart here in the form of David Jackson.''

Directed by Alex McCall, the film is narrated by Dougray Scott, the actor.

Alex McCall said: ''David's story is an epic one, it deserves to be told on the big screen.''

Catherine Woodford, its executive producer, said: ''The way the film is woven together makes it 10 times as moving as seeing it in individual documentaries.

''Many people tell us they grew up with the story of The Boy David in their hearts. This new film will capture the hearts of the next generation.''

The film will be on general release from Friday.