The Swinging Sixties returned to mid-Somerset as the BBC cameras rolled into the penultimate period of their High Street shopping series.

Last week saw the shops in Shepton Mallet's historic Market Square move forward to the 1960s.

The film crew were helped in capturing the mood by members of the Bristol Mod Scooter Club who entered into the spirit of the occasion by arriving on their Vespas on Saturday morning.

There arrival created much interest – and a few ribald comments from locals who declared: "Shepton Mallet was never a Mods town – we were always Rockers!"

The Mods poured into the specially converted Milk Bar and enjoyed milk shakes, and having a go on the Juke Box – specially equipped with 60s music of course.

The traditional baker's had by last week evolved into a general store with an element of self-service introduced and, of course, those coveted green shield stamps that equipped many a home at that time with a plethora of household gadgets.

The BBC series' senior producer Jay Taylor: "Now we see the first germs of the supermarket appearing when selfservice was being introduced into shops."

Mr Taylor also pointed out the then exotic goods being stocked for the first time on shelves in those days as customers ventured abroad for foreign holidays and back home hankered for garlic, olives, and spaghetti – all then regarded as rather strange and exotic foods.

It was also the time of the abolition of Retail Price Maintenance (RPM) back in 1964, the system whereby until then goods had to be sold at a price dictated by the manufacturer.

Its abolition assisted the emergence of price competition and the supermarket multiples that we know today. After the 60s the country was transformed from being what Napoleon described as a "nation of shop-keepers", with innumerable small businesses, towards a supermarket culture dominated by a handful of large retailers.

Across the market square the crew's dressmaker Gill Cockerell had to learn overnight to become a 60s hair stylist creating bouffanted beehives for the ladies as outfits make-up and looks become more glamorous.

Gill said she had thoroughly enjoyed working on the series, particularly the transformation from making corsets for the Victorian costumes, to the make do and mend culture of wartime.

"I think it has all inspired people to take up sewing again," she said.

And she said that she recently issued challenges to some of the town youngsters. "I told them I could cut out and make a dress by the time they could go up to New Look at the top of town and buy one. I was right and mine was much nicer than what they came back with and a darn sight cheaper."

The filming fast forward's this weekend to the 1970s culminating with the end of the filming with a massive street party next Wednesday.

Mr Taylor said: "We have had all had a wonderful experience and we would like to thank everyone for their support and co-operation. It's going to be very strange to leave."

The programme that community leaders hope will put the town on the map is due to be screened in November.