TRADERS have welcomed Broadchurch 2 back to west Dorset as filming begins for the second time this summer.

West Bay looks set to once again be the star of the show as the highly anticipated second series of the ITV nail-biter continues filming in the town.

And the Dorset Echo looks set to play its own behind-the-scenes part, as 7,500 copies have been given to the crew for filming purposes.

One of the car parks at East Beach in West Bay will be closed until 8am on Saturday morning as a base for the crew.

Large lorries, mobile homes and catering units have been set up in the car park.

West Bay was bathed in sunshine for the first day of the shoot.

Broadchurch producer Richard Stokes said: “We’re delighted to be back in West Bay for the filming of Broadchurch. We have always been made to feel very welcome. The variety of locations the area gives us adds rich depth and texture to our fictional town.”

Becky Black, manager of the Watch House Cafe, said that Broadchurch had been good for tourism and good for business and they were hoping the new series would do the same.

She said: “Last time we were really busy on the Tuesday after the showing on the Monday night.

“We were always packed. It definitely does have an effect.”

She added: “It’s really nice to show off where you live. You forget how pretty it is here and take it for granted a lot of the time.”

The cafe had even had visitors coming down from Clifton in Bristol, the other location used for Broadchurch, to come and see the area.

Cafe worker Steph Chamney said: “I think it has brought business up, especially the week they were down here filming.”

Martin Chafer who works at Helmet City, said they had seen lots of people coming down and taking pictures of their second store, which was the location for Broadchurch police station in the first series.

He said: “It’s definitely brought people down here. They are looking round to try and see the different spots where it was filmed.”

John Marsh has worked on the river boats at West Bay for 30 years.

He said he was pleased to see the crew back in town.

He said: “It’s good for trade, it’s got to be. There’s no negative attached to it at all.”

Mr Marsh said there was a knock on effect the following year with people coming down to see where it had been filmed. He added: “I think West Bay has always been a bit of a back water, the poor cousin of Lyme Regis, and all of a sudden we are in the spotlight.”