The couple's seven-year-old was hospitalized in London for nine days in March suffering from E.coli food poisoning and her condition was touch and go.

The Pirates Of The Caribbean star and Vanessa, 34, kept a vigil at their daughter's bedside. Depp, 43, refused to return to the set of his latest film Sweeney Todd in London until she was out of danger, forcing filming to be stopped.

The source, who lives in the village, said: 'Johnny and Vanessa have one of the strongest relationships in Hollywood but after their daughter was taken ill the family became an even closer-knit unit.

'They have talked about marriage on and off for a long time but the recent emotional roller-coaster they have had to endure seems to have spurred them into action.

The couple, who have been together for eight years and have two children, are understood to be planning a discreet ceremony in the south of France where they live.

However locals will be disappointed if they expect to catch a glimpse of the newly weds.

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