The stars of the period drama Downton Abbey drew an excited crowd of onlookers to Lacock today as they filmed what was rumoured to be their Christmas special...in glorious sunshine.

The cobbled pavements of the village have been transformed into a late 1920s high street for the filming complete with pigs, sheep and cows. But crew and cast were tight lipped over what the scenes were about.

Fans were busy snapping pictures of butler Carson, played by Jim Carter; Lady Mary Crawley, played by Michelle Dockery, and Lord Grantham, played by Hugh Bonneville.

The ITV drama follows the lives of the Crawley family and their servants in their Edwardian country home in North Yorkshire.

Passionate fan Sarah Hardwidge, from Melksham, said: "I saw it on Facebook yesterday that Carson was shopping in Whitehall Garden Centre and then I saw another friend post that they were filming, so I had the day off work and thought I would bring my little one along.

"It's amazing, it's fantastic. I love it because you can get so close to the actors. We've seen Carson, Lady Mary, Edith and Lord Grantham."

Sarah Jose, from Bath, has made two trips to Lacock today to see the filming, she said: "We came down this morning and we had seen some of the small scenes and the big actors.

"I love it I've seen all of the series. I've been to Lacock loads of times but I was quite surprised to find they were filming here, it's social media that's how it gets around. I got a photo this morning of Brendan Coyle and I am going to find a couple more this afternoon."

Lacock resident Sharon Collins-Woodley added: "It's quite exciting. When it's aired we are going to have a party.

"For me because I deal with vintage and upcycle it, seeing all the old stuff I want to put it in my bag and take it home, it's amazing.

"It's so nice to see the village in a different time to what it would have been like and you get a different insight into what it would have been like to live here in those days, it's great."

Caroline Brunt, also from Lacock, and a huge fan of the show, said it has been amazing to see the cast.

She added: "My daughter told me it's for a Christmas show.

"It's awesome really, my nan used to be a ladies maid locally and she was seriously good story teller, so she told me all the behind-the-scenes and what was going on being a ladies maid. That's why I love it because it's bringing it back.

"I am a fidget and can't watch TV for a long time but this show keeps me gripped."

Mike Harris, from Devon, said: "We are just visitors and stumbled upon it and it is a lovely surprise. It is amazing to see all the cast and get a glimpse of behind the scenes of the filming."

Pupils from Lacock Primary School have also been watching the Downton cast.

Teacher Pauline Orchard said: "We got an invite from Mark Ellis, the location manager, so the children have come down to get an insight into basically the background of filming.

"We want them to see all the different roles people have and then next week we will pick this up so they can actually do some writing in school.

"The children are quite taken aback by the number of extra crew that are around and where the props come from, resources, animals and costumes."