VILLAGERS in Downham are cautiously welcoming their arrival on the television drama stage after waking from the "bad dream" caused by last year's foot and mouth epidemic.

The village is to be thrust into the small screen spotlight after it was confirmed that six-part flagship family series Born and Bred is to be shown on BBC1 on Sunday week.

The arrival of a BBC television crew and a host of well-known actors was "a breath of fresh air" to Downham after the devastation wreaked by foot and mouth last year, according to pub landlord David Busby.

Now villagers and traders -- who have already seen the first episode in a private showing in the village hall -- are hoping increased visitor numbers will help put the nightmare of slaughtered cattle, threatened livelihoods and no-go areas behind them.

Some have also featured as "extras" in the series -- including the Hon Ralph Assheton, son of Lord and Lady Clitheroe -- who appears in the first episode as the church organist.

Licensee Mr Busby, who runs the Assheton Arms with his wife Wendy, said when he arrived 18 years ago there was much more tourism in the village. "I remember one occasion shortly after we arrived here, on a Sunday at Bank Holiday, that the village was so packed that a bus took two and a half hours to manage to turn round --and that was without the help of a TV broadcast.

"I think people in the village might have forgotten this. It will take more than one series to make it a problem. After last year's disastrous foot and mouth, the whole thing brought a breath of fresh air to Downham.

"It has certainly helped us a great deal, although you feel sorry for the other landlords who didn't have the benefit.

"I am looking forward to the series being shown on television. Obviously a lot of people came to look at the filming, and we had a couple of little cast and crew parties at the pub in the evening, which were nice," he said.

Geoffrey Braithwaite, clerk to the parish meeting and village hall president, said: "It will certainly be an exciting time for everyone and I think most of the villagers are looking forward to it. Obviously it is going to do the shop, cafe and businesses some good.

"We are not expecting a big influx of visitors for a start. There was some concern initially, but whereas some of the television series have promoted the villages or areas, Downham is trying to be a bit low-key."

Jane Silvester, tourism and arts officer for Ribble Valley Borough Council, said: "Obviously we were very pleased about the publicity for the area, but we just need to point out that Downham is a small part of a very beautiful area and there is plenty of room for everybody.

"The village is very quaint and traditional -- there is a teashop, pub, blacksmith's and a small visitor centre -- and the main attractions are feeding the ducks and walking in the area.

"I am sure the villagers are looking forward to seeing where they live on the television, but there is always going to be an element of concern about how it is going to affect them in the future."

Other scenes in the series, based in the fictional village of Ormston in the 1950s, were filmed in Rawtenstall and at Haworth, West Yorkshire. Stars include James Bolam, who plays Dr Arthur Gilder, and ex-EastEnder Michael French, who plays Arthur's son Tom. Guest stars include Roger Lloyd Pack and Denise Welch.