IT reads like the script of the latest Dan Brown blockbuster.

A deserted graveyard, the Knights Templar and a German agent in search of the Holy Grail.

However, the location for this mysterious tale is not the Louvre in Paris or the Vatican museums but the inbound runway at Glasgow Airport.

Leading the search for what lies beneath is not Tom Hanks but a group of intrepid volunteers from the Inchinnan Historical Interest Group.

The group has just received £60,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an archaeological survey of the site of the former All Hallows Church.

It now lies within the boundary of Glasgow Airport, not far from the landing lights guiding in regular holiday flights.

A high fence protects the ancient site, where people first settled in 597AD and the first church dates back to the 11th century.

What remains of All Hallows is only open to the public once a year but that is set to change if the Inchinnan Historical Interest Group has its way.

Around 100 members of the public, as well as experts in archaeology and ancient history, met at Inchinnan Parish Church for the launch of the project.

Lynne Black, a member of the group, said: “We are hoping work will begin in April with a geophysical survey and we’ll see where we go after that.

“It was wonderful to hear the different experts talk about the project and the history of the site, as well as Inchinnan.”

It is believed people first settled in the area in the sixth century, while a church dedicated to the Knights Templar was built in the 12th century.

The Knights were founded in France and were one of the wealthiest and most powerful military forces of the time.

Over the centuries, it has been claimed that the Holy Grail could have been buried at All Hallows, which predates the famous Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian that featured in Dan Brown’s book, The Da Vinci Code.

There are also tales that, during the Second World War, a German U-boat containing the infamous Nazi language specialist Otto Rahn sailed up the Clyde to search All Hallows for the same prize.

Rahn was the inspiration for the evil Major Arnold Ernst Toht, in The Raiders of the Lost Ark film.

Whatever is uncovered near the Glasgow Airport runway could take several months or even years of careful digging and would require permission from various historical bodies.

Commenting on the Lottery award, group spokesman Bill McCallum said: “We are confident the project will generate wide community support and involvement in better understanding local history.

“And, with the positive involvement of the schools, it will encourage young people to be active citizens and learners of local history.”

Lucy Casot, head of HLF Scotland, said “Uncovering where, and how, our ancestors lived helps communities to understand their own history and identity.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, HLF is able to support projects such as this that produce tantalising clues about the past and provide volunteers with new skills.”