A CORNISH seaside town is bracing itself for an invasion of pirates as Captain Jack Sparrow and his Hollywood crew prepare to come ashore.

The new Pirates of the Caribbean film – starring heart-throb Johnny Depp – will be partly shot in the Westcountry, according to reports.

It is widely thought that producers have chosen the seaside town of St Ives as the setting for the fourth film in the swashbuckling, blockbuster pirate saga.

Depp's co-stars Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly are thought to be missing from the new venture and the warm waters of the Caribbean could be replaced by the crystal clear seas of the Cornish coast – renowned for legendary tales of pirate history.

Hollywood movie websites have been buzzing with rumours about the latest Pirates venture – On Stranger Tides – while The Sun newspaper reported that Depp is to star with Spanish actress Penelope Cruz as a possible female lead and in scenes filmed in Cornwall.

South West Screen, the publicly-funded body charged with buoying the film industry in the region, could not confirm any definite plans for production of the film in Cornwall.

But Yvonne Watson, mayor of St Ives, said the town was already awash with rumours and excitement about the imminent arrival of Depp and his gang.

She said: "Johnny was apparently spotted in St Ives a few weeks ago – but whether that's true or not I don't know.

"It would obviously be a massive boost for the town, as it always is when a production company comes to film. It's not just the hotels and restaurants which benefit, it's the shops as well – it would really put St Ives on the world map."

Depp, 46, is said to have agreed a £21 million deal to return to the big screen as the rascally pirate Captain Jack Sparrow.

It would not be the first time a major production has chosen the region for a blockbuster movie. Cornwall is proving increasingly popular as a film location – Alice in Wonderland, also starring Depp, and filmed at Antony House near Torpoint, was released just last week.

Teresa Timms of tourist body VisitCornwall said: "St Ives is a glorious location and is certainly worthy of big screen recognition.

"If it is chosen as the setting for the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie that would be fantastic.

"Cornwall has a long list of film and TV credits to its name, which has thrown it into the international spotlight and attracted thousands of visitors. The addition of a big budget international movie could only enhance this further."