A CALDICOT businessman has advised writers on the latest storylines from Radio 4's The Archers.

The long-running favourite following the lives of residents in the rural community of Ambridge has turned to Dr Michael Benfield, director of Caldicot timber-frame company Benfield ATT, for expertise in self-build homes.

Emma Carter, played by Felicity Jones, is about to marry Will Grundy, played by Philip Molloy, but as fans of The Archers will know, she left her hen night early and slept with Will's brother Ed.

Now her father, Neil Carter, is building Emma and Will's marital home using timber frame ahead of the wedding which is set for broadcast on August 27.

Producers of the show, which first broadcast in 1951, are used to recruiting experts in all fields in order to ensure the authenticity of their storylines.

And as a die-hard fan of the show for many years, Dr Benfield said he felt surprised but privileged when the show's producers contacted him.

Dr Benfield said: "I was known by the BBC because I'd helped them with another show called Under The Hammer but as a long-standing fan I was most delighted to be part of the background process."

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We've got doctors, agriculturalists and who knows what else on file as part of a long standing tradition to make sure we have all our background information correct."