FILMING for a major new BBC drama has taken place at a district beauty spot.

And the choice by the production team of the St Ives estate at Harden has been heralded as "a good day" in the site's history.

A number of production trucks, branded with TV and film lighting, were spotted outside the former St Ives Nursing Home on the popular estate.

The filming was for a scene in Boat Story.

The thriller will be broadcast on both BBC One in the UK and on Amazon Freevee, a streaming service, on a date yet to be announced, but understood to be early next year.

The six-part drama follows two hard-up strangers – Janet, played by Daisy Haggard, who previously starred in BBC comedy drama Back To Life, and Samuel, played by Paterson Joseph, who has appeared in BBC drama Vigil – who come across a haul of cocaine on a shipwrecked boat.

The pair agree to sell it and split the cash, but the decision has consequences as they become a target for police, masked hitmen and a gangster known as ‘The Tailor’, played by Tcheky Karyo.

Boat Story’s production company has also made a donation towards a mid-Victorian-style stumpery and fernery garden which is being created at St Ives.

Pam Laking, chair of the Friends of St Ives, said: “It was an interesting day for St Ives and a good day in its history.

“It’s going to be interesting to see it in the programme. It’s really good to have the filming taking place here.

“The production company has made a donation towards a garden which will mean people will benefit from it for a long time.

“St Ives estate is full of interesting buildings. This filming helps put St Ives on the map.”

Sue Nicklin and Yvonne Smith were visiting the estate while the filming took place.

Sue said: “We are a bit used to filming around here. Gentleman Jack was filmed in Saltaire.

“It helps bring attention to the area.”

Yvonne added: “It’s very exciting that they’re filming here. It is a lovely area and we are very lucky to live here.”

Boat Story has been filmed in and around Yorkshire over the last few months. The drama has been described as mixing humour with high-octane action sequences, largely using coastline.

It is from Two Brothers Pictures, which previously worked on The Tourist and Fleabag.