CAMERA crews are choosing the idyllic backdrop of Bolton's "mini Lake District" for an increasing number of television dramas.

Television bosses have been captivated by Rivington's beauty and the latest crew to visit the town's West Pennine Moors filmed Bolton funnyman Peter Kay.

The comedian chose the location to film part of his new comedy series, Max and Paddy.

And two BBC3 dramas filmed around Rivington will be screened later this year.

Lesley McNeil, producer of Max and Paddy, said they decided to shoot a scene at Longworth Hall Plantation, near Delph Reservoir in Belmont, because Peter wanted to film most of the action near his home town.

After a tour of the area with a United Utilities ranger, they decided the location was perfect.

Mr McNeil, said: "For one of the episodes, we needed a woodland location to film a scene in which Max and Paddy get lost and have to spend the night under the stars.

"The location was ideal for our requirements. It is extremely quiet, the surrounding scenery is very beautiful and it can be accessed easily from Bolton."

New BBC drama Spinechillers was filmed near Rivington village and daredevil car chases were staged around Anglezarke for the forthcoming BBC police drama Conviction.

This area is looked after by the United Utilities central catchment team, which manages the land as part of the reservoir protection work, providing natural barriers or filters such as heather between the land and water.

Simon Jennings, United Utilities area manager, said: "We are receiving more and more requests from companies wanting to film on our land, which isn't surprising considering how beautiful the area is.

"It's pleasing to know that the countryside we spend so much time working to protect the water supply will soon be seen by a national audience."

It is not the first time Rivington has been a star on the small screen.

In the 1980s, part of the television drama Jewel in the Crown was filmed at Anglezarke.

And in 2002, scores of cameras beamed live images around the world when cycling events at the Commonwealth Games took place in Rivington.