THE final episode of Vera on ITV on Sunday evening seemed to indicate that a further series is planned.

Personally, I was not a great fan of this initial series. Brenda Blethyn, who starred as heroine Vera Stanhope, rarely gives a poor performance but this was not her finest hour.

Her artificial Geordie accent was virtually impenetrable and her wildly flamboyant playing of a middle-aged woman hardly gave credence to her role as a senior police officer.

Blethyn’s accent coupled with superfluous and very intrusive background music also meant much of the dialogue was very difficult to follow.

It really was a shame, the storylines good and the wonderful photography showed the bleak beauty of the region.

V J Connor, Bishop Auckland.