GREENOCK actor Martin Compston has returned to his home town for his latest assignment.

The Line of Duty star will play one of Britain’s most notorious serial killers, Peter Manuel, in an ITV mini-series – and Greenock has been chosen as one of the locations for the drama.

A film crew was in town on Tuesday shooting scenes in the former district court.

Jackie McLaren, of Inverclyde Council, who was instrumental in arranging the filming, said: “We were delighted to support this request and to welcome some of Scotland’s finest actors to the town, particularly of course our own Martin Compston.

“I can’t wait to see the results on screen.

“Inverclyde has a lot to offer film and television producers; good transport links, great scenery and fantastic historic buildings. It’s no surprise that lots of different production companies are now thinking of Inverclyde, for everything from dramas to documentaries.

“It’s fantastic for the area and a great way of showing off everything we have to offer.”

Martin, best known as DS Steve Arnott in the BBC drama Line of Duty, will star alongside fellow Scot Douglas Henshall, who plays detective William Muncie, the policeman who helped track killer Manuel down.

The three-part drama is based on the true story of the Lanarkshire policeman’s quest to bring the killer to justice.

Muncie arrested American-born Manuel in 1946 for housebreaking and a string of sexual assaults. After being released from prison in 1955, he conducted a two-year killing spree.

Manuel also embarked on a chilling cat and mouse game with the officer, sending him birthday cards and leaving clues.

Finally brought to justice in 1958, he was one of the last men to be hanged in Scotland.

Actor Martin, who recently married fiancee Tianna Chanel Flynn at St Joseph’s Church, is no stranger to gritty roles.

The 32-year-old starred as gangster Paul Ferris in hit film The Wee Man in 2013. 

Also featuring alongside him in Muncie are Denis Lawson, of Local Hero and Star Wars fame, and Billy Elliot star Gary Lewis.