A STAR from East Lancashire is set to wow cinema audiences in this summer's movie blockbuster.

But the big name appearing alongside Angelina Jolie is not an actor -- it's a bike!

Blackburn-based CCM Motorcycles was asked to provide two of its CCM 644 bikes for the film Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life.

The film stars Angelina Jolie in the title role as the feisty heiress adventurer who hunts down priceless artefacts and CCM jumped at the chance to get involved.

Spokesman Mark Fox said: "We got a call from movie makers Paramount asking for a 'hero' bike and when they said Lara Croft we could hardly say no!"

In the movie, Lara uses the bike, which normally sells for £5,000, in a series of stunts.

At one point she is being chased across the Great Wall of China by baddies although the scene was actually shot in Wales.

Jolie herself did many of the stunts, leaving only the most dangerous bits to a stunt double.

Mark said: "From what we've seen she certainly rode it, and rode it well, although obviously some of the hairier sequences needed a stunt double.

"But the bike was definitely up to anything the special effects guys could throw at it."

The bike was specially modified for the film

It has gold paint trim to give it a more 'showbiz' look and the slimline fuel tank has been changed for a bulkier one to give it a more aggressive look.

Although Lara is an all-action girl she has also been given somewhere to store her lipstick, hairbrush and gun in a brown tank bag on the bike, matching the treasure-hunting theme of the film.

The long trail bike seat has also been changed for a new shorter seat unit. The first Tomb Raider movie took $300 million at the box office British film fans can see the sequel when it is released on July 25.

CCM Motorcycles, was established in 1971 and is backed by four times World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty and his wife Michaela.

It is planning to move its production side to Merseyside from its premises in Whitebirk Industrial Estate, Shadsworth.

The company, which employs 50 workers, secured millions of pounds worth of investment and grants through venture capitalists in Merseyside.

Blackburn with Darwen Council admitted the region is unable to compete with the scale of European and Government grants available to businesses in Merseyside.

In four years the company has gone from producing 100 motorbikes a year to projected figures of 5,000 by the end of 2004.