A COUNTY Durham town came to a halt today as Brenda Blethyn and film crews arrived for filming of the hit-show Vera.

Crowds gathered outside Citrone's Café on Chester-le-Street's Front Street to see Ms Blethyn take up her role as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope.

READ MORE: More pictures as Brenda Blethyn films in Chester-le-Street for ITVs Vera

Onlookers were seen trying to catch a glimpse of the North-East star as police officers were in attendance to make sure filming went uninterrupted.

READ MORE: County Durham café will appear in ITV's Vera as filming continues next week

Speaking to The Northern Echo Francis Citrone, manager of Citrone's Café revealed that filming would begin today, taking place over the next four days.

The Northern Echo:

Picture: NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES

The Northern Echo:

Picture: NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES

The Northern Echo:

Picture: NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES

The Northern Echo:

Picture: NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES

The Northern Echo:

Picture: NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES

The Northern Echo:

Picture: NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES

ITV previously confirmed the first two episodes of the new series will be broadcast in 2021, with the remaining four episodes filmed from Spring 2021 for broadcast in 2022.

Series 11 will see the return of Kenny Doughty as Detective Sergeant Aiden Healy, Jon Morrison, who plays Detective Constable Kenny Lockhart, Riley Jones, who plays Detective Constable Mark Edwards, and Ibinabo Jack, who plays Detective Constable Jacqueline Williams.

Blethyn previously said: “The safety of all personnel is always at the forefront of production, and with all the extra Covid precautions in place, we will relish creating and delivering six cracking new episodes.”

The Northern Echo:

Francis Citrone with his mum Madelene and sister Andrea owners of Citrones Cafe in Chester-le-Street Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Francis Citrone said the team were "excited" and news that Ms Blethyn was filming in the town had attracted lots of interest from far and wide.

He said: "We first found out about this around five weeks ago when a member of the crew asked if they could take pictures of our café.

"We agreed and they said they were going to redress the walls for filming - it's quite exciting, and it's created a lot of interest."

READ MORE: County Durham café will appear in ITV's Vera as filming continues next week

"I am glad they picked us," he added.