Mystery surrounds the future of the Dambusters film remake after rumours surfaced the project could have stalled before take-off.

The remake of the 1955 film was announced in 2006 with Peter Jackson directing and Sir David Frost producing.

The Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings director even visited Lincolnshire and taxied down the runway of East Kirkby Airfield in the museum's Lancaster bomber.

But now references to the film have disappeared from the websites of companies involved and with a raft of big budget blockbusters such as The Hobbit and Tintin on the New Zealander's radar, nobody seems sure when the film might fly onto our screens.

Andrew Panton, grandson of Lancaster owner Fred, said that since the visit three years ago, the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre had barely heard from the filmmakers.

"The only contact we've had was the early part of last year when David Frost's assistant called us about filming part of an extra for the DVD," he said.

"I think they were grabbing opportunities with veterans while they could as in a few years when the film is made they might not still be around."

Christian Hodell, agent to Stephen Fry who wrote the script for the new adaptation, said the film was still "in development" and had "no fixed start date at present".

"It's a matter of keeping your fingers crossed for now," he said.

"But it is not unusual for major films on this level to spend a good amount of time in development."

Last night Sir David Frost's London-based Paradine Productions were unable to provide answers to the Echo's queries as to the films status, except to confirm they were still working on it.

For more on the remake of the Dambusters, see Saturday's Echo.