Filming begins on Sir Ridley Scott's Robin Hood film starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett (From Western Telegraph)

Filming begins on Sir Ridley Scott's Robin Hood film starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett

3:14pm Monday 15th June 2009 in

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With the excitement of Harry Potter barely over in Pembrokeshire, Freshwater West beach is this week hosting an even bigger Hollywood production.

A cast and crew of more than 800, including 450 extras, have been making their way down to the dunes and 130 horses have been stabled nearby ready to film epic battle scenes for the new Universal Pictures production of Robin Hood.

The likes of Australian actor Russell Crowe and film director Sir Ridley Scott are scheduled to work on various scenes at the unique location, which had been meticulously prepared for their arrival.

A series of thatched huts, traditional coracles and makeshift shelters- constructed alongside the beach’s existing seaweed hut to resemble a mediaeval settlement- have been sealed off on the cliffside.

Set back from the beach, among a vast collection of trailers and motor homes, are stacks of specially built longboats and on the beach itself lies part of full sized ship made from timber.

It is understood that the beach location will double up as the film site for scenes set in Dover as well as scenes in France. Special effects at the site are also said to include the use of prosthetic bodies to float in the sea.

While the road to Freshwater West will be closed to traffic during filming (until June 30th), film fans are still able to approach the beach by foot.