Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in the film Pirates of the Caribbean

Rather than marry in the local church, L’eglise St Martin, the couple are expected to hold the ceremony in the ancient chapel within the 50-acre grounds of their idyllic rural hideaway in the tiny village of Plan de la Tour, an hour from St Tropez.

The source said: 'We understand they will marry this summer. Villagers thought they would wed in the church here but we now hear that they have a little chapel in the grounds of their home.

'It would make sense they would celebrate there because they don't like drawing attention to themselves. The whole reason they live here is because they like the quiet life.'

The couple's two children, Lily-Rose and Jack, four, will attend along with just a clutch of friends.

The couple have been living mainly in Richmond, Surrey this year while Depp fulfils his filming commitments but they make frequent trips to their palatial French villa.

Local taxi driver Jean-Philippe Reno, 44, said: 'They are a very private couple. We often see them out and about in the village but no one would dream of hassling them. That's the reason Johnny likes it here so much.

'There's no paparazzi. He can just be a normal person. It's no surprise that they want to celebrate in the privacy of their home.'

According to French law, the couple must obtain legal consent from the mayor to marry.

Once the formalities are over couples are then free to have a religious ceremony.

A spokeswoman for Plan de la Tour's mayor, Florence Lanliard, refused to comment on the rumour.

She said: 'We never discuss personal issues. We will not make any comment about Johnny Depp or Vanessa Paradis.'

With a population of 2000, it is easy to see why camera-shy Depp loves Plan de la Tour.

If they are at home, without fail they will drive in their black Chrysler Voyager to the Thursday outdoor market where they select their fruit and vegetables and even buy clothes from the bargain racks.

At the market last week locals gossiped about the village playing host to the wedding of one of Hollywood's hottest stars.