PEOPLE passing the front of Newport coroner's court yesterday would have been forgiven for thinking they had stepped into TV's fictional town of Holby.

Camera crews were filming an episode of the hit BBC 1 drama Casualty.

The coroner's court was transformed into Holby Crown Court and Clytha Park Road in Newport was taken over by camera crews and actors for the day.

Signs were placed on the outside of the Newport building saying Holby Crown Court, while the inside was used as a court room for scenes.

Stars of the show who were filming scenes in the city yesterday included Derek Thompson, alias Charlie Fairhead, who has been in the drama since its very beginning 19 years ago.

Sarah Manners, alias receptionist Bex in the programme and star of TV's Strictly Come Dancing, was dressed in a pink suit for filming.

Other stars included Matthew Wait, who plays ex footballer, paramedic and Bex's ex-husband Luke Warren, and Leanne Wilson who plays staff nurse Claire Guildford. The main characters were in suits for the court scenes, wrapping up in winter coats in between takes.

Actors playing barristers stood on the steps outside court and extras walked along Clytha Park Road.

While filming was in progress traffic was stopped at the top and bottom of Clytha Park Road by police officers.

It is not known when the scenes will be featured in the show, which is normally filmed in Bristol, or what the storyline will involve. A BBC press officer was tight-lipped yesterday about the Newport filming.

But receptionist Bex has been involved in a high-profile rape storyline.