Welcome to Henleywood

Renowed for its royal regatta, outstanding Chilterns countryside and a colourful MP, Henley-on-Thames now has a new claim to fame - as a major location for Hollywood film and TV shoots.

Three major TV series are currently being filmed in and around the Oxfordshire town, which should perhaps be nicknamed "Henleywood".

With film crews and stars heading for the Chilterns, tourism chiefs are even planning a heritage trail based on the showbusiness connections of Henley and its surrounding area.

Henley is one of the most well-heeled parts of Britain, with average house prices comfortably topping £400,000. The 12th century market town is also one of the safest Tory seats in Britain, with Boris Johnson as MP - but he is not the only TV face locals can expect to see.

The popular ITV detective drama Midsomer Murders, starring former Bergerac actor John Nettles, is being filmed in the village of Stonor, while Rosemary And Thyme - with Felicity Kendall as a gardener turned detective - is being made at a farm near Russell's Water.

Meanwhile, BBC1's Down To Earth is being filmed near the A4130, the road which makes Henley - 24 miles south of Oxford - easy to reach from the capital. The drama series is supposed to be set in deepest Devon and its stars include Ricky Tomlinson, plus former Coronation Street actresses Angela Griffin and Denise Welch.

Films shot on location around Henley include The Avengers, which starred Uma Thurman and was filmed in the village of Hambledon. Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp was also made nearby, along with the Oscarwinning Howard's End, featuring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. Tourists flocked to the Peppard Cottage near Henley after it was used in the Merchant Ivory film of EM Forster's novel.

BBC comedy The Vicar Of Dibley, starring Dawn French, was filmed at Hambledon, as was classic children's film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Tourist information manager Chris Jackson said: "We get quite a few inquiries about filming. It usually tends to be fairly out of town so there is no major disruption. But they were filming at the town hall the other day for Down To Earth.

"The Vicar Of Dibley and Midsomer Murders seem to attract the most enthusiastic tourists, while Chitty Chitty Bang Bang seems to bring back a lot of childhood memories.