FORGET Pinewood Studios - Lancashire is where film crews have been flocking.

Filming across the county increased by nearly 60 per cent last year, showing that the county is firmly on the location map for film-makers everywhere.

And Rossendale has come out on top in East Lancashire.

Yesterday saw the conclusion of ITV1's two-part crime thriller Instinct, which was filmed in Bacup and Rawtenstall last September.

It is the latest in a growing line of programmes filmed in the valley, including the BBC's family tree research programme Who Do You Think You Are?, money generating show Cash In The Attic, and period drama North and South.

In Burnley, scenes were shot for programmes including drama Casanova and Seven Wonders of the North West, while film crews visited Pendle to shoot for documentary Where Have All The Real Men Gone?

Channel 4's hit comedy Max and Paddy's Road To Nowhere was partly shot in Blackburn.

And Kim and Aggie visited the Ribble Valley for the last series of cleaning reality show How Clean Is Your House?

Also, Hyndburn provided the backdrop for an episode of the South Bank Show.

Lynda Banister, film liaison officer at Lancashire County Council's economic development company, Lancashire County Developments Ltd (LCDL), attributes the rise to easy access, good locations, and the realisation that there are alternatives to London and Manchester.

"It's excellent inward investment for Lancashire," said Lynda, who works for North West Vision, the film and media development agency for the region, based at LCDL.

"Rossendale offers a great variety of backdrops with some amazing views and scenery including quarries, hillsides, private housing and beautiful villages. It's clear to see why location managers might choose to film here, especially with the ease of access from the M66."

There were 251 filming days in Lancashire from January to October last year, compared with 176 for the whole of 2005.

County councillor Duncan Ruddick, leader of Rossendale Council and an LCDL board member, said: "I am delighted to see this increase in filming in the area, particularly Rossendale, and I congratulate all those who have worked so hard to bring it about.

"Those of us who live here already know that Lancashire is a special county, with an enormous variety of locations, both rural and urban, pastoral and industrial.

"It is very gratifying to see this recognised by film-makers too. People are realising that the North West has a great deal to offer."