Cast and crew from ITVs Vera takeover Sunderland Civic Centre car park

Brenda Blethyn along with Kenny Doughty were spotted by eagled-eyed fans as Sunderland's Civic Centre car park was transformed into a set.

Blethyn, who plays DCI Vera Stanhope in the hit TV series, was seen as filming for the 11th series continued.

This afternoon, the exterior of the Civic Centre car park was cordoned off by production crew as the adjacent Burdon Road was covered in production vans.

The production vans on Burdon Road in Sunderland Picture: JIM SCOTT

According to fans, Blethyn was earlier this month spotted filming scenes at the Port of Sunderland just a few miles down the road. 

Meanwhile last week, the cast and crew were filming in Corbridge in Northumberland as residents were previously warned of some disruption as a result.

Blethyn's chair remained in situ at the civic centre Picture: JIM SCOTT

For the past several months, Blethyn has drawn crowds across the North-East as the star has been spotted by eagled-eyed fans filming for series 11.

Blethyn and crew have visited the likes of Hartlepool, Chester-le-Street, Peterlee, Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, Seaton Sluice and now Sunderland.

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.”