Scenes for a major new film version of Sherlock Holmes, starring Hollywood actors Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law, are to be shot in Medway.

The massive Covered Slip 7, at Chatham's Historic Dockyard, will be transformed into a set portraying an 1890s shipyard, complete with an enormous ocean liner under construction.

Scenes will also be filmed in other parts of the dockyard.

The sets are being provided by film services company Turks, whose boatyard is based at Covered Slip 7. Turks will also be supplying maritime sets when filming takes place in London and Liverpool.

Turks, who moved from Kingston-upon-Thames to the dockyard several years ago, have been a major supplier of marine services and props to the film industry for more than 80 years.

The company has been involved with several major Warner Bros productions, including all the Harry Potter films. It also provided replica galleys for Troy, starring Brad Pitt.

Delighted

Turks' managing director John Tweedle said: "This will probably be the most lavish and ambitious Sherlock Holmes film ever, and we're delighted Warner Bros have chosen to film a significant part of the production in Chatham.

"It's quite novel for Turks to be working in their own premises, and the film company will have everything to hand.

"There will be a construction team of over 70 to build the sets, and that number will increase dramatically once filming starts at the end of November."

The new Sherlock Holmes, directed by Guy Ritchie, stars Chaplin star Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and British actor Jude Law as Dr Watson.

Warner Bros describes it as an action adventure mystery, in which Downey Jr brings the legendary detective to life as he has never been portrayed before.

The film is due for release in October 2009.

Rachel McAdams stars as Irene Adler, the only woman ever to have got the better of Holmes, and who maintained a tempestuous relationship with the detective.

Mark Strong stars as Holmes' and Watson's mysterious new adversary, Blackwood. Kelly Reilly will play Watson's love interest, Mary.

The movie, in which Holmes and Watson unravel a deadly plot which could destroy the country, is based upon an original comic book story by Lionel Wigram, inspired by the classic tales of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The choice of Medway for the feature film is another coup for the dockyard, which is emerging as a popular location for film-makers. Scenes for The Golden Compass were also shot there.