Network chiefs have still not decided whether a series will follow the pilot movie shot in the Island earlier this year.

The delay could wreck plans by the cop show's creators to start filming a series in the autumn.

And the pilot show may not be shown until 1994 in England, ruining hopes of a simultaneous transmission in Canada, the US and Britain this year.

A spokeswoman at LWT, the London station working on the project with America's NBC, said the pilot was "scheduled for 1994''.

She added: "There's no firm transmission date. We haven't had a decision on the series yet.'' Miss Christabel Albery, the English producer of the pilot, said she was still waiting for news on a possible series from the two companies.

"A shoot this autumn is looking less and less likely,'' she admitted yesterday.

The pilot could still be shown this fall but it was now not likely a series would immediately follow, Miss Albery said.

Instead, network bosses might use the pilot to judge whether a series would be popular, she added.

LWT's statement about 1994 was probably a "playing safe approach''.

An NBC spokeswoman said: "We're still weighing up our options.'' Before they left the Island earlier this year, "Bermuda Grace'' writers Mr.

Will Osborne and Mr. Will Davies said they were "incredibly optimistic'' they would be back this autumn to shoot more episodes.

They expected a decision from TV bosses in a matter of weeks, and a January 1994 screening date for the pilot movie was the latest they anticipated.

"Everyone's feeling incredibly positive,'' they announced at the time, adding TV chiefs were "delighted'' with the filming.

The pilot movie saw a crew of up to 60 arrive on the Island, boosted to 90 with local workers. With residents as extras, some scenes involved 200 people.

And half the film's $3.5 million budget was pumped into the economy.