Ten model Lancaster bombers ready for Peter Jackson's new Dambusters film

Ten model Lancaster Bombers are sitting in storage ready for Peter Jackson's long-awaited retelling of the heroic Dambusters raid.

Plans to remake the classic 1954 film based on the Dambusters story were first announced by the Oscar-winning director back in 2006.

Fears emerged that the film had been grounded before it began when Jackson took on other projects, including Tintin and his movie trilogy of The Hobbit – the first installment of which is in cinemas now.

But in an interview promoting The Hobbit, Jackson confirmed that scale models of the iconic bomber plane had already been built and that filming would start as soon as was physically possible.

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He said: "Dambusters is on hold waiting for me to finish The Hobbit. It wasn't something I intended to get involved in as much as I did and The Dambusters has just had to sit on the sidelines.

"But it's there. The Lancasters are built. We've got ten built for us sitting in storage. And it's ready to go as soon as we possibly can."

Jackson confirmed last year that The Hobbit would be released as a trilogy.

And it has also been suggested that the acclaimed director may have taken inspiration from the Dambusters in a fight scene for the third film, featuring the eagles in the Battle of the Five Armies.

"It wouldn't be bad to arm them with bouncing bombs, would it?" he added.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters raid, which saw members of the 617 Squadron launch attacks on German dams using bouncing bombs.

The raids were led by the legendary Guy Gibson from RAF Scampton, near Lincoln, and took place on May 16 and 17 in 1943.

To mark the anniversary, The Dambusters Inn, in High Street, Scampton, is planning a weekend of events including a beer festival, live music and reenactments.

Greg Algar, landlord of the pub, also told the Echo he wanted to hold celebrations all year round to honour an iconic moment in British war history.

He said: "It could be the last chance to get the remaining members of the Dambusters together and it would be great if we could get one down for the anniversary.

"But I've also heard someone very important could be coming to stay at RAF Scampton to mark the anniversary."

For more information on events at the pub, visit www.dambustersinn.co.uk