Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are expecting their first child together

Italian newspapers say the Hollywood couple will be wed in a ceremony at their friend George Clooney's villa in the town of Laglio on Lake Como.

Monica Mantero, the wife of Laglio's mayor, told Associated Press there was "a lot of movement" at Clooney's villa, where the Syriana star was expected.

Spokesmen for Clooney and Pitt declined to comment on the claims.

Ms Mantero, who lives near Clooney's home, said there were "a lot of people there".

She said Pitt and Jolie had not fixed a date with her husband to officiate in wedding proceedings.

Previous split

But she added: "Even if they contacted him an hour before, he could still marry them."

Clooney's spokesman Stan Rosenfield would not comment on the claims.

"There's been wedding rumours for years," he said.

Another possible location is the Villa D'Este hotel in nearby Cernobbio, where spokeswoman Annamaria Duvia said she "could not rule out" a booking under false names.

Jolie's adopted children will take the surname Jolie-Pitt

But a spokesman for the town hall said there was no official indication of a ceremony.

Pitt divorced actress Jennifer Aniston in October after four-and-a-half years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

He denied Jolie, who is twice divorced, was involved in the split, which came after the couple starred in the film Mr and Mrs Smith.

Pitt and Jolie did not publicly acknowledge their relationship for months, despite sightings of them together.