Classes: referencing of a movieclip not being recognised

[juve_steve]

I have a main .fla file that has a movieclip with an instance name level. Within this there is another movieclip called hero.

I have a main class with the following function:

public function beginLevel() {

var cHero:Hero = new Hero;
createFunction1();

}

I then have a Hero class with the following code:

public class Hero extends MovieClip {

private var hero:Object;

public function createHero() {

hero = new Object();
hero.mc = level.hero;
hero.startx = hero.mc.x;
hero.starty = hero.mc.y;
}
}

In the main flash file, the hero movieclip is nested inside the level movieclip.

The line hero.mc = level.hero; is used to make it easier for me to manipulate the hero's attributes later on. However when I compile this, I get the error message: Access of undefined property level.

I'm not really sure how to get this class file to recognise the movieclips in the main flash file.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.