Billy Connolly has been announced as the final addition to the cast of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit.

The Scottish actor and comedian will play Dain Ironfoot, a great dwarf warrior and cousin of Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) in the two-part film prequel to JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

Peter told The Hollywood Reporter: "We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of Dwarves, than Billy Connolly, the Big Yin himself.

"With Billy stepping into this role, the cast of The Hobbit is now complete. We can't wait to see him on the battlefield!"

The Office star Martin Freeman is starring in the lead role of Hobbit Bilbo Baggins, while his Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch is also appearing in the film as Smaug the dragon.

Actors reprising their roles from the hit Lord Of The Rings trilogy include Sir Ian McKellen as wizard Gandalf, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom and Andy Serkis.

The film has already begun shooting on location in New Zealand, where sets including the the Hobbit land of The Shire have been built.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, will be released in cinemas on December 14 this year and the second film, The Hobbit: There And Back Again, will follow on December 13, 2013.