MOVIE mogul Steven Spielberg may shoot scenes for a £85 million blockbuster about King Arthur at historic sites near Dorchester - including Maiden Castle.

The American film-maker is considering locations in Dorset and the West Country for a controversial mini-series based on the legendary warlord next spring.

The series, which is backed by US production company HBO, aims to demolish the "sword and sorcery" myth of King Arthur and recreate the historical reality of the time.

Supporters in Dorchester said the town's many ancient monuments and hillforts - including Maiden Castle and Poundbury - would be ideal.

Coun Richard Biggs, who sits on the town's heritage committee, said: "We really should push ourselves forward for this.

"West Dorset has one of the highest numbers of ancient hill forts in Europe. Although they may not be strictly from the time of Arthur, locations such as Maiden Castle and the county's rolling hills are appropriate.

"They would make good settings for such a project and it would be a wonderful opportunity for us to show what we have in this lovely county."

He added: "There could also be good knock-on effects for tourism and the local economy."

Mr Spielberg hopes to create a realistic mini-series along the gritty lines of his recent World War Two Band of Brothers production with the emphasis on authenticity.

The television series would be based around the time Arthur is thought to exist in 500 AD but avoid such fictional trappings as the Round Table, shiny armour, the Holy Grail and the magical sword Excalibur.

Mr Spielberg is due to cast actors in roles in January and visit Britain next spring to finalise locations before shooting begins in the summer with director David Leland.

Dorchester woman Stacie Lavis, of the Wessex Dark Ages Re-enactment Society, said: "It would be fantastic.

"Cadbury Castle is associated with King Arthur and that is just up in Somerset. Dorchester did exist at the time of Arthur and some modern-day fictionalised books by writer Bernard Cornwell were even based at Maiden Castle."

South West Screen - which promotes television film and media opportunities in the region - said it was working with Spielberg's location manager to find sites in the area.

David Evans, from Dorchester and District Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, added: "If they did come to Dorset it would be very good news for the local economy as well as tourism and heritage which the chamber has been keen to promote."