New Zealand actor Russell Crowe and Charlie Allan first met on the set of Gladiator in 1999, where they became friends  and have kept in touch ever since.

More recently they both had a chance to work together again on Ridley Scott's epic blockbuster movie Robin Hood.

Charlie is the Chief Executive of The Clanranald Trust for Scotland, who are currently building a full size motte and bailey medieval village in the Carron Valley, near Stirling.

The fortified village is based on an early Clan Chief's residence dating from the early 11th Century.

Charlie came up with the idea in 1994, whilst having a drink with some biker buddies in Edinburgh.

Many years of work have taken place since then; finding a proper site, recruiting volunteers, and more importantly raising a vast amount of funds to keep such a project moving forward.

Charlie says, ' Russell has always been interested in what we are doing.'

The village was named Duncarron after the Carron Valley, where since 2008, a huge amount of building work has been achieved.

Amongst the volunteers are people who are long term unemployed, and some are serving out Community service orders.

Charlie was astonished in 2010, when after the filming of Robin Hood, Russell paid for and donated the massive battering ram nicknamed ' Rosie ' to the project. It will feature as one of the main exhibts when the village opens to the public next year.'

Russell is the only guy on the planet I look up to,' said Charlie. ' He is pleasant, generous and a great laugh.'

Mr Crowe last night caused a world -wide media storm when he started tweeting about Duncarron and the Clanranald Trust for Scotland. In several posts he describes the project as awesome, also posting links to photographs and website's about the Duncarron project.'

I would like to say a huge thank-you to Russell for his ongoing interest, support and encouragement in our project,' said Charlie.' It means an awful lot to us.'

Barry Donnan - Site Foreman

Crowe film prop given to charity

The battering ram will be moved to the trust's replica fort Hollywood star Russell Crowe has arranged for a £60,000 prop from his new Robin Hood film to be given to a battle re-enactment group in Scotland. The battering ram will be used by the Clanranald Trust in a medieval fort it is building in a forest near the Carron Reservoir in North Lanarkshire. The trust's chief executive, Charlie Allan, became friends with Crowe during the filming of Gladiator. He played the German warrior who held the severed head of a Roman negotiator. Mr Allan said: "Russell and I have kept in touch over the years and he knew a bit about the fort we're building. "While we were on the set (of Robin Hood) near Farnham in Surrey he suggested trying to get some of the props. "I had my eye on some tents, which I thought would look good until we got our long houses built. The prop was used in the new Russell Crowe film Robin Hood "He said he'd do what he could to help and the very next day he came to me with a huge grin on his face, grabbed me by the sleeve, pointed at the battering ram and said, 'It's all yours'." Mr Allan said the Australian actor had spoken to the executive producer, Charles Schlissel, who said he would be delighted to help. He added: "It was a fantastic gesture. The battering ram, which we called Rosie on set, will be great for our fort." The Clanranald Trust is a charitable organisation which aims to raise awareness of Scottish culture and heritage through interactive education. It is in the process of building a replica medieval Motte and Bailey Fort in the Fintry Hills, which will serve as a an visitor attraction. The idea is to provide an arena where groups and individuals can experience the atmosphere of an authentic medieval working community. So far the trust has spent about £350,000 on the project but still needs to raise £250,000 to complete the fort.