You would not expect to find a rain machine in Marsden.

But that is exactly what surprised villagers saw when they stumbled across the film set for upcoming BBC One crime thriller In The Dark.

Much more used to the natural precipitation, which is certainly no stranger to the brooding Colne Valley landscape, pipework was set up to deluge actors as they were filmed walking along Peel Street on Monday and Tuesday.

But it was not just the fake weather that the production team from BBC Drama North brought with them, as they re-imagined Marsden as Poleford.

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A sign bearing its name was hung up over the Best One shop and post office on the main street, where the bulk of filming in the area took place.

Visitors may have thought they had got caught up in a massive crime, due to the presence of dozens of actors dressed as police around the centre including Peel Street, which was closed to cars.

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More strange goings-on included the sudden disappearance of the well-known Riverhead Brewery Tap, which was replaced in name by the Magpie’s Nest, complete with net curtains.

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The arrival of a new, fake tattoo parlour fooled at least one local.

The yellow-topped market stalls were one of the few pieces of set to bring colour to the village, which were set up on Argyle Street.

A young cast including MyAnna Buring (Ripper Street, Downton Abbey, The Twilight Saga), Matt King (who played Super Hans in Peep Show) David Leon and Emma Fryer have had to withstand genuine temperamental weather throughout the shoot, which began on earlier this month.

Snow and sleet rained down on them several times on Monday and Tuesday, which also left the production crew shivering.

Residents took to Facebook to post photos from the shoots and comment on the filming.

Ian Bagshaw said: “There should be a market there every week. It looks fantastic.”

Meanwhile, Barrie Mclaughlin was suitably amused about the use of the rain machines.

“Never thought I would see artificial rain in Marsden,but Hey,theres a first for everything”, he said.

But there was some annoyance over the effect filming has had on bus services, due to the closure of Peel Street.

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The 185 from Marsden to Huddersfield had to begin and terminate at Fall Lane, meaning it was unable to pick people up from the other side of the town at Dirker.

Anne Shaw said: “Just a shame they have cancelled the buses up Dirker today and tomorrow. “Not scoring any brownie points for people who rely on public transport to and from the village.”

Manchester Road and Mount Road have already been used for filming, as well as locations near to the Old Goods Yard where film crews were parked over the last two weekends.

The series is based on novels by Mark Billingham and Buring will play detective Helen Weeks, who will try overcome childhood secrets as she deals with two major crimes.

Filming will also take place in Manchester and the north west.

A TV release date has not yet been set.