The octogenarian star, famous for appearing in The Avengers and Goldfinger, will answer questions after a showing of the 1969 Derbyshire-based film The Virgin And the Gypsy, at the Ritz Cinema, on Sunday.

The visit is part of the annual Discovery Days fetival, which celebrates the heritage of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

World Heritage Site coordinator Adrian Farmer said: "It's a 40th anniversary screening for the film, which features Derbyshire locations, including Cromford Station, which is in the World Heritage Site.

"I know it's been a sell out with quite a few people on the list in case of cancellations, so it should be a great reception for our star visitor."

Belper is the main focus of this year's nine-day Discovery Days festival, which aims to bring the town's history to life from Saturday, October 24, until Sunday, November 1.

Sunday, October 25 is a particularly special day for the town, with dozens of activities taking place.

Historical walks, interesting talks and sights of little-known historical interest will form the basis of the festival.

Belper will also host its very own planetarium for a day, when Strutts – the former Herbert Strutt School, on Derby Road – is transformed to mark the national year of astronomy.

Events will also take place in the town's River Gardens and at Strutt's North Mill, and at less high-profile historical locations in the town, such as Dalley Farm, which is one of the only remaining examples of a farm built by the Strutt family.

For more information about the festival, please call Derbyshire County Council on 08456 058058 or you can visit www.derwentvalleymills.org.