TOURISM bosses are expecting a rush of sales on Downham memorabilia as the series filmed in the village hits the TV screens on Sunday.

Downham first became famous when Richard Attenborough chose it as the location of his award-winning 1960s film, Whistle Down the Wind, which starred Hayley Mills and pupils from nearby Chatburn CE Primary School.

Now the popular hamlet looks set to have a second shot at fame, when Born and Bred starts its six-week run on Sunday.

Downham was transformed into the fictional village of Ormston for the series, starring James Bolam and former EastEnders actor Michael French.

David Johns, of the Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre, added: "We stock various Downham memorabilia and certainly expect sales to increase once the series starts."

Sales of a jigsaw depicting turn-of-the-century Downham have shot through the roof in anticipation of the BBC TV series.

Clitheroe town centre newsagent David Gowgill said the jigsaw, depicting the centre of the picturesque Ribble Valley village, was selling like hot cakes.

David Cowgill said: "In the last few weeks sales have shot up. Born and Bred certainly seems to be generating a lot of interest."

The 1,000-piece jigsaw, produced by Gibsons Puzzles, features a painting by self-taught Birmingham artist Gordon Lees, whose delicate depictions of English rural life have been exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London, the US and Japan.

Geoff Lee, Business Development Manager for Gibsons Puzzles, said the Downham Jigsaw was first issued five years ago, but had been re-released in anticipation of the TV series.