Carlisle's bare knuckle fighting champion Decca Heggie is ready to hit the big screen after completing filming alongside a number of Hollywood stars.

Harraby hard-man Decca features as Blockie Johnson in My Name is Lenny, a biopic of notorious London actor and criminal, Lenny “The Guv’nor” McLean.

The fighter was asked to appear in the film by Lenny’s son, who saw Decca compete in one of his bouts.

The film, due for release next year, also stars X-Men and Mad Max actor Josh Helman, as well as veteran actor Michael Gambon.

Decca, who struggled with cocaine addiction throughout his twenties, took up fighting and religion after a chance encounter with a priest.

At the conclusion of his filming Decca was beaming with pride. In a statement on his Facebook page, Decca wrote: “Three-and-a-half years ago I would never have dreamed to be in the position I am today, blessed is an understatement.

“I’ve become a two-time bare knuckle fighting champion, finished filming my first big movie role in My Name Is Lenny, to be released at cinemas in February, and my autobiography will be published by best-selling publisher John Blake in 2017.

“What I am trying to say is, if a normal lad like me from Carlisle can make it then nobody’s dreams are just dreams, they can become reality, just keep trying hard to get where you can, just always stay humble and never forget your roots or where your from.”

Last month Decca also was able to celebrate emulating Lenny McLean by being crowned “The Guv’nor”.

Fighting at Clapham Grand, London, Decca came up against Julius Francis, whose biggest fight of his career to date came in 2000 when he faced American heavyweight Mike Tyson.

The likes of Audley Harrison, Vitali Klitschko and another Ukranian in Alexander Dimitrenko are among Francis’s other opponents.

Decca held his nerve to come out on top.