This year's Academy Award ceremony will see Lincoln Cathedral battle it out against Avatar's floating mountains of Pandora for the Oscar for best art direction.

The Young Victoria, which features scenes filmed at Lincoln Cathedral, has been nominated for the award, as well as receiving nominations for best make-up and best costume design.

The Academy Awards, more popularly known as the Oscars, are presented annually to recognise the excellence of professionals in the film industry, including actors, directors and writers.

The award for best art direction is based on the overall visual presentation and display of a film, which includes the use of Lincoln Cathedral, which serves as the setting for Westminster Abbey

The Young Victoria is a romantic dramatisation of the events leading up to and following the coronation of Queen Victoria, and focuses on her relationship with Prince Albert in the early 1830s.

Chief Executive for Visit Lincolnshire, Penny Baker, said that the film's nomination would go a long way to raising the profile of the county.

""If the blockbuster movie, The Young Victoria, scoops an Oscar at this year's awards we could see a spotlight thrown once again on Lincoln Cathedral," she said.

"Lincoln Cathedral was picked as the backdrop to one of the movie's most memorable artistic scenes – the young queen's coronation."

"It is great news for Lincolnshire, as the economy can really benefit hugely from a successful film over the medium and long term. Especially when people, from all over the UK an even overseas, visit movie locations and follow the footsteps of their favourite actors."