AN INDEPENDENT Liverpool film company is going underground after receiving threats for making a documentary about a religious shrine.

Network Five productions is moving from its city center base and will also place two of its staff under aid protection for the next four weeks.

Maurice Alexander, pictured, founded the company in 1993, said the moves are necessary as the film alleges that the appearance of the Virgin Mary at Medjugorje, in Bosnia Herzegovina, 17 years ago, is a multi-billion pound hoax.

Maurice, of Wlaten, said:  "If you speak out 'against' Medjugorje, people stop talking to you, they boycott you, they call you 'Satan' or they say it's the devil's work."

Network Five has also assisted in a similar film for Channel Four's Dispatches, to be screened this Thursday, November 20, at 9pm.

Their own film, entitled:  "Visions on Demand - The Medjugorje Conspiracy" is now with TV networks.

It makes serious allegations against Medjugorje and claims that the Franciscan fathers who organized the movement are under investigation from the Vatican.