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

Ms Blethyn, who plays Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope, is filming throughout the week at Citrone's Cafe on Chester-le-Street's Front Street.

As filming in the town kicked off, crowds yesterday gathered outside the cafe in a desperate bid to catch a glimpse of Ms Blethyn taking up her role for the hit-series.

READ MORE: Pictures as Brenda Blethyn begins filming in Chester-le-Street for ITVs Vera

But more pictures have emerged showing Ms Blethyn filming in the town, with one member of the public describing how the day went.

Picture: BILLY ATKINSON

Northern Echo Camera Club member Billy Atkinson, who popped down to see filming take place, said: "Well she's been to Chester-le-Street before, but that was kept a total secret when she was filming at Durham County Cricket Club.

"I know the Citrone's and went down a side entrance to get some pictures - she (Ms Blethyn) was really nice and I asked if there was any chance she would wind down her window and able to take a photograph and she did, she was really good to talk to."

Picture: BILLY ATKINSON

Speaking to The Northern Echo last week Francis Citrone, manager of Citrone's Café revealed that filming would begin this week.

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

Picture: BILLY ATKINSON

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."

The family's cafe has been temporarily rebranded as 'Royal Cafe' with signs removed while filming continues to take place.

Picture: BILLY ATKINSON

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.”