Filmmakers behind the upcoming screen adaptation of THE DA VINCI CODE have won their battle to film at London's Westminster Abbey - as authorities cannot prevent them from shoot the outside of the historic site.

Officials at the Abbey slammed DAN BROWN's bestselling story as "theologically unsound", and banned the crew from using interior shots of the holy building.

But the production team are undeterred, as they are filming the interior of Lincoln Cathedral, but the exterior of Westminster Abbey - and officials are resigned to facing the inevitable.

A spokesperson for the Abbey says, "There's nothing we can do to stop them filming in the street. So there's no point in getting annoyed about it."