IT was 'lights, camera, action' in Tavistock this Monday when cast and crew from BBC1's Down to Earth programme visited.

The series follows the trials of a fictitious family which moved down to Devon from London and took over a farm.

Filming started in the early part of the morning outside and inside Tavistock police station. It then moved to a corner of the area behind Bedford Hotel — which was supposed to be the police yard behind the police station.

Police enquiry officer Geoff Jackman said he had dealt with any customers 'out the back or in the car park', but it had all gone 'very well'.

'They seemed to enjoy themselves and finished ahead of schedule. I kept out of the way as there were people flashing lights and cameras and ladies with make-up brushes running around!' he said.

After a break for lunch, filming resumed — this time at Kivells in Brook Street, which was an estate agent's, but renamed Roebuck's for the occasion. The office remained open and members of the public were free to go in and out.

'It was quite fun really,' said Kivell's associate partner Rupert Noyscott. 'It's astounding how much equipment it takes to film one small scene, but we managed to continue business around them — and at least everyone looked at our houses!'

Rural driving shots in the country lanes around the town — including Pork Hill — ended the day's filming, which continued on the next two days in the Eggesford area.

Ellie Bevon, who plays Sarah Addis in the series, and Katy Reeves, who plays Celeste, took part in the Tavistock filming, together with North Devon actor Martin Neal — who played estate agent Mr Roebuck. Star of the show Pauline Quirk was not involved on this occasion.

Assistant director Paddy O'Donnell said Tavistock had been the director's choice because of 'its aesthetic value'. He explained the scene in Kivells/Roebuck's showed a 'disappointed Celeste leaving after failing to find an affordable property to rent in the area'.

Actress Katy Reeves said Tavistock was 'a lovely little town' and Martin Neal said the town was 'stunningly pretty'.

'It is not my first visit to Tavistock, as I was brought up in North Devon — where I still live — and used to come here with my school to play matches against Mount House School,' he said.

The film crew will return to Devon in five or six weeks' time, but it is not known at this stage whether they will be coming to the area again.