CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A FILM production company has singled out a timeless north Wiltshire village as the most unique in the country.

London-based Company Productions shot 10 scenes at Lacock for an ITV1 drama adaptation of Tom Brown's Schooldays.

Location scouts chose the National Trust-owned village to represent the outskirts of Rugby and a coaching inn featured in the Thomas Hughes novel.

In one scene, filmed on Thursday, street urchins throw objects at Tom's horse-drawn carriage as he is taken over the bridge and through the village on his way to school.

Company Productions spokesman Deborah Goodwin said: "People will be able to quite clearly see Lacock is used when the drama is shown this winter.

"The village is a perfect historic location. It was the first choice as it is absolutely beautiful.

"Lacock is very unique. It must be a location filmmakers desire for costume drama as little has to be done to make it look authentic."

Although the production's main stars Stephen Fry and Jemma Redgrave were not needed in the filming last week, 14-year-old actor Alex Pettyfer, who plays Tom Brown, made an appearance.

Miss Goodwin said: "He is a brand new talent. Tom Brown's Schooldays is seen as one of those films that catapults whoever plays Tom into stardom. We are very excited about Alex's talent."

Lacock has been chosen as a location for TV dramas such as Pride And Prejudice, Moll Flanders and The Mayor Of Casterbridge.

Harry Potter fever bewitched the village in 2001 and 2002 when scores of tourists flocked to the abbey to see locations used in the first two hit films.

But villagers were left fuming last year after Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron ditched Lacock for the third film The Prisoner of Azkaban, which premiered in London last weekend.

Despite this disappointment National Trust spokesman Alex Brannen said he was delighted Lacock was still a choice location.

He said: "Lacock is a great location particularly for period drama. The trust and local residents look at every application they get and choose those who will have a minimum impact on the village and people that visit.

"When all this is considered, it is a great opportunity to promote one of the trust's best properties in Wiltshire to a wider audience."