Roberts signs up as spider woman

Actress Julia Roberts is to voice the lead role in the film of children's classic Charlotte's Web.

She will play Charlotte, a spider who teams up with a little girl to save their friend Wilbur the pig from being turned into bacon.

It is Roberts' first project since the birth of her twins, Hazel and Phinnaeus, two months ago.

The film is based on the best-selling book by EB White and will be a mixture of live action and animation.

Oprah Winfrey will voice a goose, John Cleese will voice a sheep and Steve Buscemi will play a sleazy rat, according to Variety.

Ten-year-old Dakota Fanning will play Fern, the little girl at the centre of the story.

The actor who will voice Wilbur the pig is still to be announced.

Written by EB White, Charlotte's Web has sold 45 million copies since it was published in 1952.

An animated version was made in 1973 but this will be the first live action film.

Filming starts in Melbourne, Australia later this month and the Paramount Pictures movie is due for release next year.