A TINY East Lancashire village was the inspiration behind an episode of a popular television drama, it has been revealed.

Slaidburn, in the Ribble Valley inspired a fictional village featured in one episode of the Inspector Lynley Mysteries, which were based on a series of books by author Elizabeth George.

The village of Winslough first appeared in bestselling novel, Missing Joseph, which was later adapted into an episode of the BBC 1 detective series.

In Missing Joseph, Detective Inspector Lynley, played on television by Nathaniel Parker, is joined by trusty sidekick, Detective Sergeant Havers, played by Sharon Small, as they search for a missing public school boy.

The crime-cracking duo search the sleepy village's old stone cottages and trawl though the narrow streets and heather moorland, as they are drawn into the closed world and ancient traditions of private education in rural Lancashire.

And the wintry backdrop is clearly reminiscent of the quaint village of Slaidburn, which lies near the head of the River Hodder, within the Forest of Bowland - an Area of Outstanding National Beauty.

Multi award-winning American author Mrs George, who used to work as a high school teacher and also has a flat in London, lives in Seattle, Washington, but spent ten days in Lancashire to research her novel.

She said: "The inspiration for Winslough was indeed Slaidburn and the hotel in my novel was the Hark to Bounty Inn in Slaidburn.

"I changed the name of the village because I enlarged it slightly, but the church is there, the rectory is there, the hotel is there, and the abandoned Victorian mansion is there as well, a short hike from the village.

"Back End barn also exists, high on the moors.

"It was a wonderful location - atmospheric and rich in history - just what I like for one of my novels."

Tourism and Arts Officer at Ribble Valley Council, Rebecca Kay, said the publicity would hopefully attract more visitors to the "inspirational area."

She said: "It's great that a popular television programme was based on the area and captures the imagination of what it is all about.

"It shows off Slaidburn for what it really is - an ideallic little village.

"It really highlights the beauty of the area and will hopefully encourage more people to visit."

The episode was first screened in 2001 but has been regularly repeated.

Members of the close knit community in Slaidburn were also shocked and excited when they heard news.

Chairman of Slaidbun Parish Council, Jean Lawson, read about the village's link to the series in a magazine.

She said: "I had to read the article twice because I didn't believe it. It's amazing that we didn't already know.

"It's a special village because everyone knows each other and that's a big bonus these days.

"It still exists today that people don't know each other in their own communities, but we're very lucky.

"We're really privileged to live here. On a spring day, where else would you want to go?"