Mid-Somerst's historic railway will be centre stage in a Christmas chiller next week.

Since the summer the BBC have been working on a new period re-working of the Henry James classic The Turn Of The Screw, to be shown on BBC One next week.

The 90-minute drama, set in the 1920s, stars The Royle Family and Waking The Dead star Sue Johnston.

It is described as a ghost story that will keep people on the edge of their seats and there is one group who will be particularly gripped – to see the scenes shot at the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore earlier this year.

In a letter to the railway, a spokesman for the production crew behind The Turn Of The Screw paid tribute to everyone from the station who helped out.

"Tim Fywell, the director, was very pleased with the location and the scenes we shot there look great on screen," he said.

"Also pass on my thanks to your staff, who were all great fun and who accommodated us well.

"The day was enjoyed by all the crew and seemed to run smoothly with the locomotive performing perfectly.

"The station is certainly a wonderful film location but also works well logistically with the unit."

The spokesman did not rule out the possibility of future film work at the station in the future.

The Turn Of The Screw will be shown next Wednesday, December 30, from 9pm on BBC One.

Ben Stephenson, controller of drama commissioning, said: "Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a ghost story for the adults to watch in front of the fire when the children are in bed, and they don't get more chilling than this bold reimagining of the classic Henry James tale."

It tells the story of young governess Ann, played by Michelle Dockery, who is sent to a country house to take care of orphans Miles (Josef Lindsay) and Flora (Eva Sayer).

After Miles is expelled from school, a ghostly couple begin appearing.

Ann learns that her predecessor, Miss Jessel (Katie Lightfoot) and her illicit lover Peter Quint (Edward MacLiam), another former servant of the household, a clever but abusive man, both died under curious circumstances.

Prior to their death, they spent most of their time with Flora and Miles, a fact which takes on a grim significance for Ann when she becomes convinced that the two children are secretly aware of the presence of the ghosts.