Millions of pounds were spent on film production in Cornwall last year as the county became ever more popular for films, advertising promotions, videos and dvds.

Many overseas companies have used the county as locations not least Truro, Falmouth and Helston.

Pippa Best, project director at Cornwall Film, said: "Cornwall Film supported four feature-length Rosamund Pilcher adaptations.

These spent over £800,000 in Cornwall, creating 18 jobs for local cast and crew, and using local restaurants and accommodation."

Producer Elvira Bolz said: "Cornwall offers a fantastic choice of locations, experienced crew, and local production facilities. Support from the local councils, Cornwall Film, and the National Trust has been tremendous."

The TV dramas are hugely popular in Germany and regularly attract over seven million viewers - many of whom travel to Cornwall to visit locations featured in the films such as Prideaux Place and Godolphin House.

Local production companies have also fared well. Penryn-based production company Oscha received Cornwall Film finance towards the production of two new DVD titles - Heart of a Garden and Wildlife Wrecks and Reefs. Oscha have filmed at Trebah Gardens, Pencarrow, Caerhays, Prideaux Place and Tresco Abbey Gardens.

Martin Gaunt from Oscha, said: "Cornwall Film's support has allowed us to create six full time posts for new staff this year, nurturing and developing Cornish talent.

"The projects are a great opportunity to grow Oscha's expertise, contacts and capacity, and to develop a new strategy for getting independent DVDs to a wider market."

Keeping Mum, recently released across the UK, and starring Rowan Atkinson and Patrick Swayze, was filmed near Truro in early 2005.

Other productions filmed in the region in 2005 have included another Pilcher adaptation, The Shellseekers, a second series of Doc Martin in Port Isaac, cult TV comedy series Nighty Night near Bude, and the series' Coast, A Seaside Parish, and Seaside Rescue.

Numerous other documentaries, commercials and pop promos have filmed at Charlestown Harbour and at locations across the region.