FILMING in Horwich for The Last Tango in Halifax has been welcomed by the town council leader.

A film crew set up base in Mansell Way, on Sunday, to shoot scenes for the hit BBC drama’s Christmas special.

Road closures were put in place on Mansell Way, Aspinall Way and Aspinall Close, close to Middlebrook Retail Park, for a minor car crash scene to be filmed.

The collision between two stunt cars was staged outside Hitachi Automotive Systems in Aspinall Way and showed Sarah Lancashire seemingly arguing with a woman, believed to be a new character in the show, in scenes will be shown in one of the two-part episodes te be shown in the fourth series.

Red Production Company have been filming for the show, at various locations around Bolton for the past few weeks.

Exterior scenes were filmed in the town centre in Le Mans Crescent, on October 26 and will be portrayed in the episode as Oxford and scenes taken in Farnworth will be referred to as Huddersfield.

Horwich Town Council Leader Joyce Kellet said she is “thrilled” the town has been chosen as a filming location.

She added: “It is putting Horwich on the map and it is brilliant.

“It is really exciting and we are so pleased.

“The fact that they have come to Horwich to film shows how great of a place it is.

“I know that it was a bit disruptive for some people in cars but it was only for a couple of hours and they were very accommodating of drivers.”

Last Tango in Halifax writer Sally Wainwright teased fans earlier in the year that the upcoming Christmas special will see a “big story” for Nicola Walker’s character Gillian and her partner Robbie.

It is unknown when the latest series will hit TV screens.