THE cobbled streets of Saltaire will appear in a new TV adaptation of JB Priestley's An Inspector Calls, broadcast this weekend.

The production, starring David Thewlis, Ken Stott and Miranda Richardson, is one of four literary dramas being screened as part of the BBC's season on classic 20th century literature.

Set in 1912, Priestley's play is the story of a family who come under investigation following the suicide of a young woman.

Filming took place in Saltaire earlier this year, with Salts Mill doubling up as the mill owned by the Birling family at the centre of the drama.

Peter Salmon, Director BBC England, described An Inspector Calls as "a fantastic moment for Bradford and the BBC", shown in a "prestigious prime-time slot on Sunday night."

He added: “I know the play is very important to people in the city. I think we’ve done JB Priestley justice."

An Inspector Calls is the latest in a series of TV dramas filmed in the district and screened this year. Others include Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and police drama Black Work, starring Sheridan Smith. Other dramas shot on location here in recent years include Jamaica Inn, South Riding and the Syndicate, with Last Tango in Halifax and Happy Valley filmed in Calderdale.

Bradford City of Film director David Wilson added: "The fact that we are getting so many repeat visits to Bradford and the wider Yorkshire region for feature films and TV dramas is testament not only to the many and varied stunning locations we have to offer, but also to the real ‘can do’ attitude of people working in the sector locally. There’s a real willingness among production specialists, local authorities and key agencies to continue to make Yorkshire a brilliant place to make film and television.

"From a Bradford point of view, its in our DNA - we’ve been at it since the dawn of film, and where better to film an adaptation of a JB Priestley play?"

The trend for programmes shot on location in the region owes much to the fact that the BBC is now based at Salford. Now so long ago the Corporation was, many licence-payers felt, too London-based. Moving TV production to the North has had a significant impact.

"Since BBC North was created four years ago, and we moved major departments north to Salford, we’ve had a great track record of success," said Mr Salmon. “We’ve been really busy in this part of Yorkshire. As well as An Inspector Calls, we’re currently planning a new drama about the lives of the Bronte sisters, which will be filming around Bradford soon. It’s being written by Yorkshire writer Sally Wainwright, whose work for us also includes Last Tango in Halifax and Happy Valley."

As well as the BBC's input, the success of attracting film-makers is also due to Screen Yorkshire's £7.5m Yorkshire Content Fund. The Great Train Robbery, Jamaica Inn, Residue and Get Santa, all partly filmed in the district, are among major TV and film productions supported by this pot, set up with European Regional Development funding.

This year's Bradford International Film Summit, which drew film and TV production leaders and specialists together to discuss the future of production in the UK, put the spotlight on the North and Yorkshire. Now Bradford City of Film is working with Screen Yorkshire, Bradford Council and other agencies to drive through the next phase in film and TV activity in the region, which includes attracting production.

City of Film is also working with Creative England, which invests in business in film, TV, games and digital media, to help local firms benefit from opportunities to boost the economy and generate jobs through film.

A movie starring Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette, shot in Ilkley and Haworth last year, offered up opportunities for local businesses, when an appeal went out for a trailer to shelter the cast during a downpour.

“There was a lot of filming in the district at that time - DCI Banks, Black Work and a Bollywood film,” said Mr Wilson. “When the weather suddenly turned on Ilkley Moor the production company needed a trailer for Drew Barrymore.

"The businesses we normally use were all busy with the other productions, so we had this big budget film and no trailer! I turned to a farmer, who provided a caravan.

"It showed the importance of us having a database of local businesses who can help out with things like equipment and catering for location filming, so we can contact them quickly when needed.”

* An Inspector Calls is on BBC1 on Sunday at 8.30pm.