Filming for a  new horror series set in a motel written by acclaimed  Bolton actor Andrew Buchan has been taking place in Westhoughton.

Mercury Motel in Westhoughton has been used as the setting for some scenes for the dark coming horrror Passenger, a six part series, which is being filmed by ITVX.

The series marks Andrew's debut as a screenwriter, who is best known for his acting roles on Broadchurch, The Honourable Woman, ABC Murders and most recently Better.

This is the latest production to be filmed in Bolton.

For the shoot, the motel lounge was transformed into a vintage canteen, ready for the shoot.

Passenger is being produced by the award-winning SISTER, and is based on a number of strange and unnatural crimes in a Chadder Vale village, starting with the disappearance of a girl.

As part of the filming, ITV X refurbished the lounge of the motel, putting down new carpets, painting the walls and outside of the building as well as working on lighting and building a set on the stage.

The Bolton News:

Owner of the Mercury Motel, Jackie Hayes said: “It looks great and we are really excited.

“We were already thinking of having a refurbishment anyway, so ITV said they would be painting and doing things.

“It’s really great help for us so we are happy they chose us for it.”

After the crews finish their filming, they have offered to put back what they changed, or the motel can choose to keep anything they like.

Manager Chris Perry said: “This kind of thing does not happen every day and they seem to be putting a lot of time and effort into this series.

“Everyone is really excited especially because it’s being filmed right here in Westhoughton.

“There is a buzz around the building as people want to see what they have done here.”

In the series, after arriving there five years ago, Former Met Police Detective Riya Ajunwa has been searching for that ‘one big crime’, that one challenge that will make her feel alive again.

Then, Katie Wells is mysteriously abducted, but before she can solve the crime, Katie reappears alive and well, but setting off a chain of horror events.

The Bolton News:

Chris said: “They approached us to have a look at the building to see if it was suitable for the time period the series was set in.

“And we ticked all the boxes and a few weeks later, a coach-load of people came down to visit us.”

The Bolton News: Andrew Buchan as Mark Latimer in Broadchurch

Andrew, who is also the associate producer, said: "I’m unbelievably thrilled to be working with SISTER, ITV and BritBox International.

"I feel very lucky and very flattered they’ve gone with these scripts and I’m going to work my backside off to make them the best they can be. I’ve always loved shows where the known collides with the unknown … where you see communities faced with something horrifying and inexplicable, where, as a viewer, you’ve nothing in your kit-bag to explain it.

"When I started writing the scripts, I wanted to create something epic and unknown but also bed it somewhere close to home. Having grown up in Lancashire it felt like the perfect place for it. We’ll definitely see the residents of Chadder Vale pushed to their limits.”

The cast of the new series has not yet been released.

Filming has now wrapped for the series following the weekend.

In a statement posted to Facebook, a spokesman for the business said: "What a brilliant couple of days with ITVX filming a New Drama here at The Mercury.

"We are soooo excited to see us when it airs later on in the year.

"Great for Westhoughton and great for The Mercury."

The Mercury Motel is reputedly Britain's first purpose built Motel. Built in the late 1950s, this flat roofed, single storey building is said to resemble the traditional motel seen in many American movies.

Amongst the many famous guests that have stayed here are The Beatles, John Pertwee, Glen Tilbrook and Terry Waite.

Filming is taking place all over Lancashire for the series.