CAMERAS are poised to roll in the Lake District on a big-screen version of Beatrix Potter's Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Film crews are heading for Ambleside and Windermere in the first week of April to shoot location scenes for the new movie - a blend of live action and animation from American studio Columbia Pictures.

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James Corden, who rose to fame in sitcom Gavin & Stacey, is to voice the lead role of the blue-jacketed rabbit dosed with camomile tea after stealing radishes and French beans from Mr McGregor. The curmudgeonly gardener is to be played by veteran actor Sam Neill, of Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders fame, while Australian actress Rose Byrne is cast in the female lead role, Bea.

Meanwhile, there is speculation that "good little bunnies" Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail are to be voiced by Hollywood star Margot Robbie, of The Wolf of Wall Street; Elizabeth Debicki, of BBC drama The Night Manager; and Daisy Ridley, of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Ben Berry, South Lakeland district councillor for Windermere Applethwaite, greeted news of the forthcoming film as "awesome". He told the Gazette: "It's an A-list movie and we are really excited our town is going to be a part of that.

"It follows the news that Windermere is one of the top destinations in the country for tourism, and the more worldwide and national coverage we get in films like this one, the better.

Beatrix Potter's publishers Frederick Warne and Penguin Random House UK have teamed up with Columbia Pictures - part of Sony Entertainment - on the forthcoming movie. Scenes have already been shot in Australia, home of Animal Logic, the animation and visual effects studio which helped created The LEGO Movie.

Peter Rabbit's director, Will Gluck, said: "I am delighted to be teaming up with Frederick Warne. Their expertise and stewardship is absolutely critical to making a film that honours the legacy of Beatrix Potter."

Residents and businesses in Windermere and Ambleside have received letters from location manager Joseph Cairns about the film dates in early April, with reassurances that noise and traffic will be kept to a minimum. In the letter, Mr Cairns says he hopes residents will understand the desire to film in "authentic Cumbrian locations".

Windermere restaurateur James Tasker, of the Lamplighter Dining Rooms, said: "The village as a whole has evolved exponentially over the last five years and become a destination in its own right.

"It's doing wonderfully well, and to have an international film crew here from one of the top entertainment companies in the world is amazing."

Beatrix Potter bought her Near Sawrey farm, Hill Top, with the proceeds of some of her early books, including Peter Rabbit, first published privately in December 1901.

She became a prize-winning Herdwick sheep breeder and lived with her husband, solicitor William Heelis, at Castle Cottage until her death in 1943.

Last year was the 150th anniversary of her birth, and special coins were issued by the Royal Mint.

Peter Rabbit and Beatrix Potter are no strangers to the screen big and small. In 1971 the Royal Ballet filmed The Tales of Beatrix Potter, and in 2006 Bridget Jones actress Renee Zellweger starred as the young Beatrix in Miss Potter. More recently the CGI animation Peter Rabbit has become one of CBeebies' most popular children's shows. Rachel Tyson, head of marketing and sales at Cumbria Tourism, said: "The Beatrix Potter connection attracts thousands of visitors every year and we look forward to welcoming many fans to the region to see the Lakeland countryside that inspired Beatrix Potter to write her stories. We look forward to the positive impact the film will have on the local economy and we hope to see an increase in bookings and trade across the county."

The film is expected to be released in March 2018.