MICHAEL MOORE - MOORE'S FAHRENHEIT NAME UNDER DISPUTE

MICHAEL MOORE's latest documentary FAHRENHEIT 9/11 is causing more controversy - after writer RAY BRADBURY accused the film-maker of lifting the title from his classic novel.

Author Bradbury, 83, is demanding an apology from Moore for allegedly lifting the title from his novel FAHRENHEIT 451 - "without asking permission".

The Illinois, America-born writer hopes to avoid legal action and wants to "settle this as two gentlemen, if he'll shake hands with me and give me back my book and title."

Bradbury - who waited six months for a reply - heard from Moore last week (begs14JUN04) and says he was "embarrassed. He suddenly realised he's let too much time to go by."

The 1953 story about an ugly totalitarian futuristic society takes it title from the temperature at which books burn.

The OSCAR-winning director says he used a similar name for his film because it highlights the "temperature at which freedom burns".