The movie sees Wallace and Gromit as pest controllers

The Aardman production follows the pair's adventures as they try to catch a crop-savaging marauder who is threatening a vegetable competition.

Peter Sallis returns as the voice of Wallace, while Peter Kay, Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes also feature.

The film will be shown in UK cinemas from October, while the BBC plans to show it in 2008.

The BBC broadcast Aardman's first feature-length film, Chicken Run, in 2003.

The corpoation also renewed its deal to show the three previous Wallace and Gromit films - A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers, and A Close Shave, as well as Cracking Contraptions, a collection of short films.

BBC controller of acquisitions George McGhee said: "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is the hotly anticipated family film of the year and we're delighted to be able to bring it to a BBC audience.

"This deal continues our strong relationship with Aardman and we're pleased to able to acquire quality British films as part of our commitment to investment in British talent."