SHOPPERS may have found themselves doing double takes this week as actor James Nesbitt films in Bury for new Netflix thriller.

The Cold Feet and The Hobbit star was spotted filming Stay Close, on cobbles outside the Castle Armoury in the town centre.

It is the second adaptation of the bestselling author's work for TV to be filmed in Bury.

The Stranger was also shot on location in Bury, starring Richard Armitage, who will also be among the cast of this latest thriller.

It is understood that James has been filming in the town over the past weeks, including in Tottington, and took time out to speak to his fans and pose for photographs.

Stay Close is being produced by Red Productions and the eight-part drama follow three key characters whose dark secrets resurface, setting off a chain of events which threatens to destroy their lives.

Nesbitt said the script ' drew me in from the get-go'.

Stay Close is the latest Netflix project for Harlan Coben, as part of his current five-year deal with the streamer to develop 14 of his titles into film and TV dramas.

Harlan said at the time of the annoucement of the new thriller, : “I am so happy and excited to Stay Close (pun intended) with Danny Brocklehurst, Nicola Shindler and Richard Fee — the same team that made The Stranger, Safe and The Five. And talk about a dream-come-true cast – Cush Jumbo, an incendiary and awesome talent; Jimmy Nesbitt, a legendary actor I always wanted to collaborate with; and wow, Richard Armitage back again! Netflix has been a wonderful home, and from what I’ve seen so far, Stay Close will be our most gripping and binge-able series yet.”