A SLEUTH was at work in Corsham this week on the trail of a crime as filming took place for a new television series of Agatha Raisin.

The fictional detective played by Ashley Jensen, taken from the novels by Marion Chesney, was snapped by Paul Nicholls of Imagination Photography as the who-dunnit was being filmed outside Paul Martin's antiques shop.

Mr Nicholls said: "Every time they did a take, they would ask the public to move or to stop walking past as their reflections could be seen in the shop windows.

"We had to stay back as they had three extras who were to be the official pedestrians in the High Street as part of the back drop to the filming.

"Everyone was very considerate but also curious to see how they filmed it and the actors at work."

He said as a photographer he couldn't resist the chance to get some photographs of the action as customers respond to seeing famous faces in a photographer's potfolio.

The comedy drama was filmed for Sky TV and commissioned by Cameron Roach for Agatha Raisin And The Quiche Of Death.

It led to a crowd of onlookers said Mr Nicholls who watched as the film company filmed a number of scenes outside the antiques shop.

Marion Chesney as the retired private detective was seen to meet her co-star Mathew Horne as Roy Silver, share a few words and then go into the shop.

More filming took place in the store with a team of around 50 people involved said Mr Nicholls which included make-up, runners, sound and lighting.

Ashley Jensen said of her role that Agatha Raisin is a strong forthright, independent, driven, successful woman, who is both funny and flawed, a real woman of our time.

Series two was ordered by Acorn TV with a change to three 90-minute films as opposed to 45 minute episodes, while the current filming is for season three scheduled for broadcast later this year.