'Caff' launches Finney Oscar bid

Finney has received five Oscar nominations

A traditional British cafe group is campaigning to get actor Albert Finney awarded a lifetime achievement Oscar.

Finney, who turned 70 on Tuesday, has been nominated for five Oscars without ever having won.

He received best actor nominations for his roles in Tom Jones, Murder on the Orient Express and The Dresser.

Inspired by his role in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning celebrating the British "caff", Sausage and Mash Cafe say Finney deserves the recognition.

The London-based chain will ask its customers to add their name to a petition which will be handed to the film academy in Los Angeles ahead of the 2007 Oscar ceremony.

Unlike the academy awards, on which academy members vote as a whole, the honorary award is chosen by the academy's board of governors.