The legendary musical, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary, has been chosen by readers of The News for the city's very first drive-in movie.

Hundreds of film fans are expected to head to Southsea Common to watch John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John on the big screen from the comfort of their own cars on Saturday, September 27 at 7pm.

The film, to be screened as part of Portsmouth Film Festival, was voted by readers as their favourite from a shortlist of five.

It beat Jaws, the first Star Wars, time travelling spoof Back To The Future and Hitchcock thriller North By North West.

The classic rock 'n' roll musical will be shown on a screen measuring six metres wide and three metres high, to be put up at the same place on the common where Pompey showed off the FA Cup to supporters. Sound will be transmitted directly to in-car radios.

The event will be part of the fourth Portsmouth Film Festival. Committee member Emma Wright said: 'We think Grease is a fitting choice as it harks back to the 50s, the heyday of drive in movies.

'We're pleased the people of Portsmouth chose a fun film to launch the city's first drive-in event.

'We really hope they enjoy it. It's a good addition to the diverse film and digital media the city has to offer, which can be seen during the film festival.'

The three-day film festival, sponsored by The News, will begin on Friday, September 26, with a major national premiere at a glamorous red carpet gala in the city's only independent cinema, No.6 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

The choice of film will be revealed nearer the date, but organisers believe it will be Brideshead Revisited.

No 6 Cinema will also be screening Stanley Kubrick's classic black comedy, Dr Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, starring Portsmouth-born comedy legend Peter Sellers.

Other venues taking part in the city-wide festival include Aspex Gallery, which will showcase Japanese animated drawings in contemporary art, with artist Takashi Ishida. The artist will produce work live at the event.

Smaller fringe events will take place at locations around the city.

>>> Tickets for Grease will go on sale on Friday, priced £10, available from Portsmouth Guildhall box office (023) 9282 4355.

>>> Tickets for the glamorous red carpet gala evening are £10 directly from No 6 Cinema on 0781 5650753 and www.no6cinema.co.uk

>>> For more information about this year's Portsmouth Film Festival, which will take place from September 26-28, go to www.portsmouthfilmfestival.org.uk