A LAVISH production of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge is set to hit the small screen this summer nearly three years after it was made.

Production crews for the ITV drama spent three-and-a-half weeks in Dorset during the summer of 2000 filming the programme.

But despite countless promises from TV bosses that the £4 million two-part drama was going to be aired it has not seen the light of day since.

Now the programme is back in the schedules and a spokesman for Sally Head Productions, which was commissioned to make the programme for ITV, said that it should be screened later in the summer. A final screening date will be released nearer the time.

Tourism bosses in West Dorset today welcomed the announcement that the production is finally to be screened.

Hardy bases Casterbridge on Dorchester and although the county town was deemed to have changed too much to be used as Casterbridge, filming did take place in Maiden Castle, Cerne Abbas, Lulworth and Stonebarrow near Charmouth. Officers at West Dorset District Council are certain TV viewers will want to see the real life Dorchester for themselves.

Cheryl Stapleton, acting tourism development manager for West Dorset District Council, said: "We are looking forward to seeing the screening of the Mayor of Casterbridge.

"It's certain to provide a boost to tourism as film locations are always popular and attract a lot of interest.

"I am sure many viewers will be keen to come and see the real Hardy Country and all West Dorset has to offer."

The Mayor of Casterbridge revolves around the story of wealthy landowner Michael Henchard who is reunited with his wife and daughter two decades after he abandoned them.

Ciaran Hinds plays Henchard in the production and Jodhi May is his daughter Elizabeth Jane. James Purefoy plays Donald Farfrae, Juliet Aubrey is Susan Henchard and Polly Walker is Lucetta.

Production company Sally Head Productions has been responsible for a number of recent dramas including BBC2's controversial Tipping the Velvet and The Cry starring Sarah Lancashire. Before that Sally Head worked on Cracker and Prime Suspect.