The cast and crew of popular crime drama Vera are back in action as filming for the new series continues.
Wearing the detective's trademark hat and raincoat, actress Brenda Blethyn was in the Whitley Bay and Seaton Sluice area on Tuesday.
With St Mary's Island in the background, the scene was set up with police cars, cordons and forensics officers in hazmat suits along the coast.
Filming for series 11 of the ITV drama, which is based on books by Whitley Bay author Ann Cleeves, was put on hold last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Production began again in the autumn and the cast and crew were seen in areas including Tynemouth, South Shields, Gateshead, Amble and Chester-le-Street.
ITV has also revealed that the new series will kick off with a suspicious death in Tynemouth.
The first two feature-length episodes are set to air in the spring, although a date has not been given as yet.
The 11th series opens when the body of well-respected local builder, Jim Tullman, is found beaten to death on the steps of Tynemouth's Collingwood Monument.
DCI Vera Stanhope questions how such a seemingly beloved and imposing figure could be attacked so viciously.
The mystery deepens when she discovers that Tullman was due to testify in court as the key witness in a violent assault.
Brenda has played the role of DCI Stanhope since the show first aired back in 2011. Series 11 is to feature six feature length episodes.
Fans of the show are eagerly awaiting the new programmes and have been commenting on it on social media sites.
One wrote on Facebook: "I can't wait to see the next series of Vera."
"Can’t wait to see my hometown again," added another.
And one said: "It’s wonderful to watch TV and see familiar places, listen to Geordie dialect and just all around great. Also love Vera."
