BOLTON’S stunning architecture was given a national showcase as it featured in the opening scenes of a hit detective thriller series.

Bolton Town Hall and Le Mans Crescent took centre stage as series two of Bancroft returned to screens, much to the pride of Boltonians.

The eagerly anticipated series two of the ITV drama returned on Wednesday night, almost a year after A-list actor Sarah Parish was in the town centre reprising the title role of ruthless police officer DCI Elizabeth Bancroft.

The historic Turton Tower was also featured in the opening minutes as a crime scene.

The producer of the first series said he had deliberately chosen Bolton because of its crescent, town hall and civic centre architecture which created a Paris/ New York feel.

Cllr Andy Morgan, said: “It makes you feel really proud to see this and it looked amazing.

“For the people who live here, they get to experience this daily.”

He said the planned regeneration for the town, including a hotel in Le Mans Crescent, would boost Bolton’s reputation further along with the town’s on screen presence.

In episode one Bolton Town Hall provides the backdrop to a lavish police awards ceremony taking place. Parish is seen walking up the grand steps of the iconic building before going into Turton Tower.

Viewers see Bancroft riding a professional high at a great cost, estranged from her son Joe, played by Adam Long and pressure from her pact with a crime boss.

Adam will be back in Bolton this summer when he pursues another passion.

He said: “I have quite a lot of physical energy so I started looking for something else to put that into ­— triathlon seemed like a good fit and now I’m hooked. I’m competing in my first ironman in Bolton in July.”