YOU could say Emma Rosenthal is "over the moon" with her latest clothing creations.

For the 32-year-old from Prestwich provides all the costumes in the popular TV drama Life On Mars, which is back on our screens and attracted 5.7 million viewers for the first episode recently.

And that's no easy task as the BBC detective drama follows the fortunes of Hyde detective Sam Tyler, played by John Simm, who was catapulted back into 1973 following a car accident in 2006.

Emma was put in charge of the whole retro look of the series, parts of which were filmed in Bury and Bolton.

She said: "I was responsible for every piece of clothing on the entire set."

Emma trawled the second-hand shops around Oldham Street in Manchester and Affleck's Palace inparticular.

She admitted she had been interested in 70s retro since the age of 15 and decided to dress John Simm in a black leather jacket and tight trousers and the baddies in polo neck jumpers.

Emma revealed: "Sam Tyler is dressed slightly trendier than the other characters but not so much that he stands out."

Sometimes Emma has used modern clothes but found it difficult finding trousers that went up to the belly button, adding: "I like the 70s styles but some of the fabrics, such as crimpolene and nylon, were horrible."

Emma, educated at Bury Grammar School where her mum Rosemary teaches maths, admits to having a genetic disposition towards sewing - two of her grandparents were ladies' dressmakers. But it was only when she was in the sixth-form at Bury Grammar that her dressmaking skills came to the fore.

She revealed: "The English teacher Mrs Judith Skinner asked me to make all the costumes for the schools' production of The Sound of Music. With seven children and a convent full of nuns this was no mean feat!"

Her organisational skills and sheer hard graft earned Emma the BGS Award for Services to the School.

Emma went on to study geography at Liverpool University, and later studied costume at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Drama School. After moving to London she worked at the Old Vic, The National Theatre and for the Royal Shakespeare Company, but she is glad to be back in Prestwich and working on home ground, especially as "there is so much drama based in Manchester."

Emma has already collaborated with her first cousin, producer Nicola Shindler, of Red Productions on New Street Law. This legal drama, like Life on Mars, is filmed and set in Manchester and has a second series starting this month.