Wiltshire is set to feature in a new TV series presented by the star of a BBC sitcom.

BAFTA award-winning writer and actor Charlie Cooper is bringing his passion for folklore to the small screen in a new series for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.

He is best known for being the co-creator and star of 'This Country', a series which brought rural perspectives to mainstream audiences.

His new series will see him exploring sites from crop circles and UFO sightings in Wiltshire to ghost dogs roaming the coast and countryside of East Anglia.

He will meet the believers and the naysayers, visiting iconic locations and gathering evidence in a bid to find the truth.

The series will also explore how these legends shape the identity of the places and people they come from.

Three 30 minute episodes will see Mr Cooper uncover eye-witness accounts of strange goings on, as well as staging his own experiments in a bid to bring him closer to the truth.

He said: "I’m really excited about this new series, as I’ve always been fascinated by local legends, myth and folklore.

"As I see it, my mission is to explore our ancient world, seek out mythical creatures and boldly go where no TV presenter has gone before."

Nasfim Haque, head of content for BBC Three, added: “It is super thrilling and scary in equal measure to see what mysteries and magic Charlie uncovers on his adventures.

"We are so pleased to be working with him on his factual debut at the BBC and we are sure that audiences will be captivated by everything he discovers.”

The series, which currently has the working title 'Charlie Cooper’s Local Legends', is set to be produced by made by Naked West

Tom O’Brien, managing director of Naked and executive producer of the series, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Charlie and BBC Three on a brand new adventure series ripe with character, kookiness and the uncanny.

"British folktales are finding new life once again with a real explosion of interest, so it’s a great time to unearth their origins, quirks and meaning for the present-day.”

Broadcast details will be confirmed in due course.

The show, which has been commissioned by Catherine Catton, senior head of commissioning, and Nasfim Haque, is being produced and directed by Rob Gill.