RESIDENTS in Goathland, near Whitby, setting of the hit television series Heartbeat, have given a big thumbs up for it to continue being filmed in the village despite problems of noise and parking.

A packed meeting called by the parish council and attended by Heartbeat representatives, heard there were difficulties caused by incconvenient parking by large television vehicles and noise caused by night-time filming and villagers were told they would be investigated.

The parish council says the prosperity Heartbeat has brought to Goathland has far outweighed the liabilities.

An almost unanimous vote in the packed hall agreed that the popular series should continue to be filmed in the village. A spokesman for Heartbeat said it was likely to continue until at least mid-February next year.

Meanwhile, the parish council says there is a need for low cost and starter homes in Goathland to enable young families to remain in the area. Some 15 families have said they want a home and a search is on for a suitable site to build four to six properties.

* Heartbeat is based on the Constable novels by Nicholas Rhea, who writes Countryman's Diary each week in the D&S Times. See page 20.