UPDATES on filming a popular ITV drama series in the town have been released by the production company.

ITV crews will be in multiple locations in Hexham near the marketplace to film the thirteenth series of Vera from Monday, May 22 until Friday, May 26. 

There is a second visit scheduled on Tuesday, May 30 for half a day of filming involving some traffic control. 

An ITV spokesperson said: "We are working closely with Northumberland Parking Services to work out the least impactful way to service the filming locations. We are also working closely with Northumberland Highways Council to implement temporary stop-and-go traffic control points during certain times of our filming days.

Hexham Courant: DCI Vera Stanhope and Joe Ashworth on set in Haydon BridgeDCI Vera Stanhope and Joe Ashworth on set in Haydon Bridge (Image: ITV Studios/Silverlink Pictures)

"We will have traffic control around the main filming location of marketplace for the shooting days, this is to help keep filming scenes clear.

"We will be suspending some bays around the marketplace for our filming, however we are working with the Abbey to keep the number of bays we require to a minimum."

Small World Cafe also announced filming would take place on certain days inside the cafe which would have to close.

The cafe said on social media this would be Tuesday, Wednesday and possibly Thursday.

Starring internationally acclaimed and award-winning actress Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope, the new series sees the return of actor and director David Leon as Joe Ashworth.

Joining Brenda and David for the three new feature-length episodes are Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart, Riley Jones as DC Mark Edwards, Sarah Kameela Impey as pathologist Paula Bennett, and Rhiannon Clements of Ridley and Hollyoaks as new and ambitious DC Steph Duncan, who joins Vera's team.

An acting opportunity is available for a local woman to be cast as a character shopping at a fruit stall in the Hexham marketplace. For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/NE14.TVcasting.

In the opening episode, titled Fast Love, DCI Vera Stanhope is called to a quiet country lane where a young man has died following a collision with a car. Vera discovers the victim is a popular market trader so heads down to his pitch to piece together who the man is.

Mrs Blethyn commented: "Stepping back into Vera's shoes for the thirteenth series feels like coming home again. The support from the locals in the North East is truly heart-warming and reuniting with the talented David Leon and the rest of our exceptional team is an absolute delight. Together, we embark on this new chapter with a terrific script crafted by the brilliant Paul Matthew Thompson."

Mr Leon said: "I’m thrilled to be returning to Vera. It's fantastic to be back in the North East and reunited with Brenda and the crew for the new series. I’m looking forward to exploring the relationship between Joe and Vera as they make up for lost time.”

Executive producer Will Nicholson added: “Being from the North East it is always a joy to film Vera here and we are very grateful for the warmth and support from the fans during production. Starting the new series is incredibly exciting and alongside the incomparable Brenda Blethyn and the rest of our talented cast, we are delighted to welcome David Leon back to the show."

Hexham mayor Derek Kennedy said: "We always welcome television to the town as it means Hexham is used as a backdrop which can only help tourism by putting it in the spotlight."