Spooks TV stars film at Coalhouse Fort in East Tilbury

Excitement and wonder spread around locals and volunteers at the East Tilbury attraction as camera crews and trailers filled the car park as everyone wanted to know what was going on.

Peter Firth, who has starred in the popular show since series one playing Sir Harry Pearce KBE, head of counter-terrorism department, met with some of the volunteers at the fort and had a look around with park ranger Ray Reeves on Wednesday.

The show follows a group of spies based at M15 who are based at the service's Thames House headquarters, in a highly secure suite of offices known as The Grid.

Mr Reeves, who has been park ranger for three years told the Gazette: “The team has been here before and it is really exciting to have such a big show filming on your door step, I am a big fan and have got to have a peek at some of the filming.

“Everything they are doing here is top secret because they have had many leaks on the Internet in the past.

“But what I like about them being is that the team integrate well, and it makes a good name for the fort and keeps up the interest which is what we need.

“It has been great to see the area on the television in the past and it is the sort of thing I can include in my tours, I can say that character did that there and it gets people really interested.”

The Coalhouse Fort and its infamous water tower, where the Spooks team were seen filming on Wednesday, has also been part of Batman Begins, Silent Witness and a past series of Spooks.

Resident Bill Saunders, 60, from East Tilbury walks his dog at the fort twice a day and was intrigued to know what was going on.

He said: “There have been lots of film crews here in the past and it is good to have them back. It brings in money for the fort them being here and it can only be a good thing.

“This is a beautiful area and TV shows coming here to film help keep the area alive and it brings some excitement to the village.”