FILM crews were spotted recording BBC's adaptation of a Dickensian classic at Burnley's iconic Queen Street Mill.

Production staff were seen at the grade I listed mill on Monday, Tuesday and yesterday to film parts of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

The three-part special is set to feature a star-studded line up including Guy Pearce playing Ebenezer Scrooge, Andy Serkis as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Line of Duty's Stephen Graham.

It is being produced by Stephen Knight and executive produced by Tom Hardy, Ridley Scott, Dean Baker, David W Zucker, Kate Crowe and Mona Qureshi.

It is believed the mill was being used to film a welding scene in the show.

One nearby Queen Street resident said: "I have seen lots of goings on at the mill but I didn't realise they were filming a tv show.

"It's exciting to know these big film stars might just be over that fence.

"I'm glad the mill is being used for such a big and exciting project."

The mill was built in 1894 for the Queen Street Manufacturing Company and shut in 1982 before it was turned into a museum.

Another Queen Street resident said: "I wish I had known earlier I would have tried to get a selfie with some of the actors and actresses.

"I can't wait to see the show when it comes on TV."

The mill is no stranger to film crews after it was used as the location for scenes in the multi-Oscar winning film The King's Speech in 2009.

Mr Knight said: "This production of A Christmas Carol will respectfully present what we believe to be a timely interpretation of a timeless story.”

The mill was also used to portray the Milton steam mill in the BBC series North & South, featured in Life on Mars and appeared in the 2015 BBC adaption of An Inspector Calls.

It also appeared in several documentaries including Channel 4s 2014 series Hidden Villages.

Piers Wenger, controller of BBC Drama, said: "We're incredibly excited that filming has begun on Steve Knight's brilliant interpretation of A Christmas Carol, with Nick Murphy directing a phenomenal cast in what promises to be an iconic version of the classic tale."

The screening date is not known.