The producer of the £5 million film The Rocket Post has accused Albert Finney of snubbing the production because the actor did not want to have to travel to the windswept Outer Hebrides. Mark Shorrock, of Ultimate Pictures UK, has claimed that Finney, rumoured to have turned down a knighthood this year because he did not believe in the honours system, was reluctant to "give up the creature comforts of London" to film The Rocket Post. He said Michael Simkins, Finney’s agent, had loved the script but had been unable to persuade the 65-year-old actor to travel to Taransay, which was also home to the BBC’s Castaway 2000 series, where the film is being shot. But Mr Simkins said yesterday: "Mr Finney simply didn’t find the script interesting enough."

Mr Shorrock said: "He did not want to film in the Outer Hebrides. I understand he likes his city comforts. It would have been nice to have had an actor of his quality, but I was not surprised at his response. However, this is one of the best scripts around at the moment. We are looking for an Oscar nomination and expect The Rocket Post to be one of the top three UK films next year."

The film is based loosely on the story of Gerhardt Zucher, the German scientist who disastrously tried to send mail by rocket between the islands of Scarp and Harris in 1934. However, the story for the film - which also stars Kevin McKidd, of Trainspotting fame, and Gary Lewis, who appeared as the father of Billy Elliot - has been altered. The main plot of the film version of the story focused on Zucher falling in love with a local girl shortly before the war.

Finney, nominated for an Oscar for his role in Erin Brockovich, had been offered the part of the local MP, Sir Wilson Ramsay. Mr Shorrock added: "His agent enjoyed the script but said he was unable to persuade him to make the trip to the Hebrides. He said Albert felt it was more preferable to stay in London." Visit Scotland said Finney would be missing out on the spectacular beauty of the Western Isles by deciding not to take part in the film.

Barbara Clarke, a spokesman for the former Scottish Tourist Board, said: "If you haven’t been to the Outer Hebrides then you haven’t lived. People don’t come to Scotland for the weather, they come because it has that spiritual peace and quiet." However, Finney is not the only big name to say no to the film. It has also been turned down by Sir Sean Connery and Billy Connolly. And the production is running £500,000 over budget after having to build an entire village film set on Taransay at the last minute.

The film had been due to be set on the nearby island of Scarp, but permission was refused at the last minute. Mr Shorrock, who has asked for a £40,000 grant from the Western Isles Council, said: "I would have loved to have filmed on Scarp, but there’s a spectacular beach on Taransay looking across to Harris that is just made for cinema. Weather statistics show Finney’s decision to stay away from the Hebrides may have been a wise one if he’s grown used to the recent heatwave that struck the capital. Maximum average temperature of the islands is only 10.8°C, average rainfall is 1,173mm - double that of London - and there are about 197 rainy days a year.