Villagers in Lacock may be left disappointed as the number of extras needed for the Christmas special of BBC period drama Cranford is being cut by up to half.

Filming for the two episode special at Christmas, due to take place in Lacock later this year, was discussed at a meeting between villagers and BBC filming staff last week, where it was announced that the number of extras needed for filming would drop as they need to cut costs.

Leader of Lacock Tenants' Association, Leo Stevens, was at the meeting.

He said: “The meeting went well with villagers voting unanimously for the filming to go ahead from Monday June 8 to Saturday June 13.

“Villagers seemed quite happy to have the filming crew returning to Lacock.

“The only issue raised by the filming crew was that the number of extras that will be used is going to be cut due to reduction in costs.

"I don’t know how much the number of extras will be cut by, it could be up to half.”

He said he is glad residents in the village are given first priority to be extras as they have to put up with the disruption that the filming brings.

“I think people will be quite disappointed that there is less chance to be an extra but that is the same with anything that is in high demand.

“I think that people putting their names forward to be extras should be from the village as we are the ones affected by the filming and so we should be the ones who are involved.”

A casting for extras is expected to be announced in April or May ready for the filming to start in June.