THE Wiltshire Times will feature on prime-time television in a two-part drama based in the county.

Granada will start filming for the ITV production Walk Away and I Stumble in Chippenham in the next couple of weeks.

Tamzin Outhwaite, Mark Strong, Julie Graham and Aiden Gillen will star in the show about retired cop Andy Spader and his wife Elaine.

The production company approached the paper to ask if they could use a dummy front page about lead character Andy. He is on his way to see his four-year-old daughter Krystal when he notices a framed copy of the Wiltshire Times has fallen off the wall.

He fishes it out from behind a cabinet and looks at the front page declaring him a hero and reminisces about the past.

Matthew Graham, who grew up in Wiltshire wrote the script, and Nick Hurran produces the show.

A spokesman for ITV drama said: "Nick Hurran came to do a reccy of the area recently and saw no reason why it should be set anywhere else other than Chippenham.

"It provides the ideal location for the drama.

"The Avebury Stones, which are between Calne and Marlborough have deep routes in the story and some scenes will be filmed there."

The crew will be shooting for six weeks in and around Chippenham although the exact locations are unconfirmed.

Blonde Outhwaite is best known for her role as Melanie in Eastenders. She also starred in military drama Red Cap and Hollywood film Seven Seconds. Alongside her will be Mark Strong, from Our Friends in the North, The Long Firm and Births Marriages and Deaths.

Queer as Folk star Aiden Gillen will also feature alongside Julie Graham from William and Mary.

The drama focuses on the life of retired cop Andy Spader and his wife Elaine.

The pair are happily married until Andy begins an affair with Claire.

All three characters become entwined in ways they could never imagine and the drama follows the ups and downs of love and death.

"We have got a crew of about 60 people," the spokesman said. "We are looking at various locations in the town, so we will need to use people's houses.

"Anyone who lives locally will definitely recognise Chippenham because there will be significant local landmarks. We are saying it is set in Chippenham and that is a key part of the storyline.

"There will be a lot of extras and we will be looking for local people to take part in non-speaking roles."

Chippenham mayor John Scragg said he was delighted ITV had chosen Chippenham.

"We see Lacock being used quite a lot but not necessarily the town centre itself.

"Around 10 to 12 years ago they staged a whole range of historic documentaries about King Alfred's time in Chippenham.

"But I'm sure the town has never staged this kind of thing before."

Producers are appealing for extras on the show and. Anyone interested should send a recent picture and details to Nerys Phillips at Production Office, Avon House, Langley Park, Langley Road, Chippenham.