A NEW Hollywood block-buster about crop circles is already being rubbished several weeks before it has even been released.

The film Signs is clearly trying to cash in on the phenomena of Wiltshire's crop formations by telling the story of how the beliefs of a small-time farmer are tested when large patterns mysteriously appear in one of his corn fields.

But already serious crop circle watchers are saying that the film, which stars Mel Gibson, cannot be taken seriously.

Francine Blake of the Wiltshire Crop Circle Study Group said: "It is the sort of typical hysterical Hollywood film we are used to all sensational and scary.

"I know people who live in Hollywood who know what the plot is about and they are in no doubt as to what sort of film it is.

"All I can say is that we are disappointed with this film. But I would not urge people to boycott it because they will easily be able to make up their own minds when they see it."

The film is about to be released in America, where there is a big interest in crop circles, and is likely to be a box office success.

It was back in May last year that news leaked out that Hollywood was going to climb on the crop circle bandwagon.

Every year hundreds of American tourists visit Wiltshire's famous crop circles, and Mel Gibson, who starred in Braveheart and Lethal Weapon is known to be interested in the subject, so it was no surprise when he agreed to take the lead role.

He plays the part of farmer Graham Hess, and the plot focuses on how he deals with the mysterious appearance of a 500ft design which suddenly appears in a corn field on his farm in Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile the crop circle season is well under way in Wiltshire and one of the largest formations ever has appeared in a field near Stonehenge.

The symmetrical shape measures around 750 feet in diameter which it is said links up three Bronze Age burial grounds.

Mrs Blake said: "So far this summer a total of 25 formations have been found throughout the country including 15 in Wiltshire.

"They also appear in many other countries throughout the world and always close to ancient sites like Stonehenge and Avebury.

"There always seems to be some connection with ancient sites."

And the interest in the Wiltshire phenomena continues to bring in tourists to boost the local economy.

Tomorrow and Friday two coach loads of crop circle enthusiasts will be visiting two major sites before attending a major symposium on the subject at Glastonbury.

Organiser Sheila Martin would not say where the sites are, but one of them is believed to be the new formation at Stonehenge which is the second largest ever found.

"All I am prepared to say is that they are nice ones and that we have got permission to visit the sites," she said.

"The press is not invited because people visiting the sites want to be left alone in peace so they can benefit from the experience."

Ms Martin is another crop circle enthusiast not impressed with the Mel Gibson film and prefers to ignore it.

So how does she think the formations are made?

"I do not bother to think what makes them. I just look and want to see if I get a feeling like a burst of energy from it.

"This happens with some formations but others are as dead as nails.

"I do not think it is an ordinary intelligence behind it."

On July 27 and 28 the Wiltshire Study Group is holding its annual get together at Devizes School.

Weird Wiltshire