The £53m Securitas armed robbery in Tonbridge is to be turned into a Hollywood movie.

Variety reports that director Darren Aronofsky, whose films include his startling debut Pi and last year's Mickey Rourke hit The Wrestler, will be helming the film, with the writing duties taken up by screenwriter Kerry Williamson.

Inspiration for the film is said to have come from an article in Sports Illustrated magazine on cage fighter Lee Murray, and a book, called Heist: The Inside Story of the World's Biggest Robbery.

Lee Murray is alleged to have played a key part in the heist but a hearing in Morocco this year ruled that Murray was Moroccan and would not be extradited to the UK.

He remains in Morocco but is charged in this country with conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to possess firearms.

The Securitas robbery, which happened in February 2006, remains the costliest cash heist on British soil. The raiders could have stolen more, but they ran out of space in their van.

While it included many intriguing aspects that could make for great cinema, including allegations of prosthetic disguises created to hide the villains' identities, it also involved the kidnapping of a young child.

Depot manager Colin Dixon, who was then living in Hadleigh Gardens, Herne Bay, his wife Lynn and young child were kidnapped and taken hostage while 14 staff were held at gunpoint during the terrifying raid.

Last year, gang members Stuart Royle, 48, Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, Lea Rusha, 35, Emir Hysenaj, 28, and Roger Coutts, 30, were convicted for their parts in the robbery.

Trials concerning the case have continued off and on since then.

Around £20m has been recovered by police since the robbery, but millions more remains unaccounted for.