A STATELY home near Warrington is currently being used as one of the main filming locations for Peaky Blinders.

Arley Hall, just three miles from Appleton Thorn, is doubling as Birmingham gangster Tommy Shelby's manor house in the BBC's hugely popular period crime series.

Parts of the property – owned by the Ashbrook family for more than 500 years – have been transformed to give it a 1920s makeover including bespoke portraits, furniture and an interior repaint in dark green to give the hall a more masculine feel more befitting of the character, played by Cillian Murphy.

Arley’s library is being used as Tommy’s study while other areas like the staircase, gallery and south bay bedroom has been redecorated as well.

Lord Ashbrook's home has been used as a shooting location by the drama's producers since series three and it has been confirmed that film crews and members of the cast were back on site in October.

But Arley is expected to feature much more prominently in series five, next year, as Tommy is now an MP and his manor home is where he is likely to meet with and entertain his guests – legitimate or otherwise.

Steve Hamilton, general manager at Arley Hall, said: "It's been exciting to welcome back the cast and crew from Peaky Blinders.

"As ever it has created a real buzz to see the hall turned into a set for one of the biggest and most anticipated TV shows of recent times.

"To play such a big part in the next series when Tommy is clearly on the up having become an MP will be great for us. Our library is so iconic and instantly recognisable so it has been great to see it used as Tommy's study again for the next series, which I am sure will be the best yet."

Some of the biggest fans of the gritty, BAFTA Award-winning show have already seen how 'Shelby manor' looks for series five thanks to a series of regular Peaky Blinders tours.

Steve added: "We are getting weekly Peaky Blinders tours visiting the hall and they often say it is the best part of their trip because they love walking through the rooms where so much has happened to the Shelby family.

"The fans often visit us dressed as Peaky Blinders and love recreating the shot we saw at the end of series 3 when Tommy is silhouetted in the doorway after other members of the family have been arrested.

"Hopefully there are going to be many more memorable moments here in the next series."

Peaky Blinders is expected to be back on our screens in spring 2019 and the show is also moving from BBC Two to BBC One due to its growing popularity.

Last year it was BBC Two's top drama, attracting an average audience of 3.3 million – almost one million more viewers than series three.

Charlotte Moore, director of BBC Content, said: "Peaky Blinders is world class drama at the top of its game and the time has arrived for it to move to the UK’s biggest channel.

"Steven Knight's epic storytelling is authentic and utterly compelling and I want to give it the chance to be enjoyed by an even broader audience on BBC One."