A NEW film about Lawrence of Arabia could include scenes shot in Hampshire - the county he called home for much of his life.

Lawrence: After Arabia focuses on what happened to the legendary leader after he helped the Arabs stage a successful revolt against the Turks in the First World War.

During the late 1920s and early 1930s Lawrence lived and worked on the western shores of Southampton Water.

Some of the scenes for the movie, due to be released in the spring of 2020, could be filmed at the former RAF Calshot - now Calshot Activities Centre.

Lawrence knew the area well, having spent part of his childhood at Langley Lodge, Colbury, which has since been demolished.

He was serving in the Royal Air Force when he returned to Hampshire many years later to help stage the famous Schneider Trophy air race, which Calshot hosted in 1929 and 1931.

During that period Lawrence saw an RAF flying boat crash while attempting to land a few hundred yards offshore.

By the time he reached the scene several of the crew had drowned. He campaigned for the RAF to be equipped with faster rescue boats and was seconded to the Hythe-based British Power Boat Company, run by Hubert Scott-Paine.

Lawrence oversaw the construction of new seaplane tenders which helped save thousands of lives during the Second World War.

He lodged at Myrtle Cottage in Shore Road, Hythe, staying for about ten months in 1931-2 and later returning for a shorter period.

The film’s director of photography is Simon Lawrence, who lives in Lymington but is not thought to be related to the famous war hero.

Director Mark Griffin said some of the scenes could be shot in the Calshot area, adding: “We’re very interested in the work he did on the boats.”

Lawrence left the RAF in 1935, dying a few months later in a mysterious motorbike crash.

He had been to the post office in Bovington, Dorset, and was returning to his home at nearby Cloud’s Hill when he apparently swerved to avoid two boys on bicycles.

Lawrence was thrown from his machine and succumbed to his injuries six days later.

Cloud’s Hill is owned by the National Trust, which has angered the movie-makers by scrapping provisional consent for them to film at the house.

Mr Griffin said: “The custodian and volunteers at the property said they could not support the project because they believe it perpetuates the theory of Lawrence’s death being a conspiracy.

“This is censorship pure and simple.”