Vera’s Brenda Blethyn films tense scenes at Hexham market place in exclusive pictures | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

Vera season 12 looked as if the detective, played by Brenda Blethyn, was going to be caught up in a murder investigation herself.

During the last episode, a huge storm erupted when Vera was trying to get home and came across an abandoned car with a baby inside.

She had no mobile signal and every road she turned down was blocked and a body was later found near her home.

However, exclusive pictures from Express.co.uk show DCI Vera Stanhope will be back investigating the latest crimes as she was pictured filming in Hexham.

The upcoming 13th season of the ITV crime drama looks to be equally as gritty, with scenes being filmed at the town centre marketplace.

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The car park for the market has been closed for the filming of the ITV series, with traffic management being in place along Beaumont Street.

The Wylam Parish Council released the dates filming Vera will take place at Points Bridge below Hagg Bank.

A social media post by the council said: “There will be some effect on users of the waggonway wanting to cross the bridge.

“Whilst the route will not be closed, the use of the bridge for preparation works will limit the available width for users to one side of the bridge.

“There may be some impact on the war memorial car park and the playing fields, and there will be vehicles on the waggonway from time to time.”

From Monday, May 22 to Friday, May 26 construction work will take place on the bridge, before filming will take place the following week, closing the bridge.

From Tuesday, June 6 until Friday, June 9, the bridge works will be deconstructed as filming in the area comes to an end.

Season 13 will see Versa reunite with old co-star David Leon as he reprises his role of DS Joe Ashworth.

Discussing his return, David said that his character will be making up for lost time when he crosses paths with DCI Vera Stanhope once more, although the synopsis warns that his exact motives are unclear.

The first of three self-contained episodes is titled Fast Love, seeing Vera called out to a quiet country lane where a young man has been killed in an apparent hit-and-run.

Her investigation reveals he was a market trader, known for his arrogant persona and for antagonising rivals, with this questionable behaviour perhaps costing him his life.

Vera season 1-12 is available to watch on ITVX.