A new series of popular ITV wartime drama Home Fires will return to our screens next month.

Scenes for the primetime Sunday evening show, which pulled in an average of 6.2m viewers last year, have once again been filmed on location in villages including Bunbury and Tarporley , and the second series promises to be just as big a hit as the first.

Starring acclaimed actors including Samantha Bond and Francesca Annis, series two picks up in the summer of 1940 where the village of Great Paxford is caught up in the nightmare of the Battle of Britain and the country is bracing itself for invasion.

But residents in the rural community face their own personal challenges and conflicts as reputations are tarnished, loved ones are lost and shocking secrets are uncovered as the women from Great Paxford’s Women’s Institute unite to discover inner resources that will change their lives forever.

Bunbury was once again transformed into a 1940s setting for the show and audiences will be able to recognise well known locations in the village including the Nag’s Head pub, the Village Chippy and St Boniface Church.

Cast and crew were also spotted filming on T arporley High Street and Chester Town Hall late last year.

Samantha Bond, who plays Frances Barden, said the new series features a rollercoaster of emotions.

“When we did the script read-through for episodes one to three in this second series, there were so many gasps. And laughter,” she said.

“Then we got to the end of episode three and half the table were in tears. A lot of it is an emotional rollercoaster for many of the women. There are new characters and friendships that will emerge but the WI is less prominent in series two; in the first series the WI was a means to get to know everyone."

And actress Jodie Hamblett, who plays Jenny Marshall, said it was a pleasure to film in Bunbury once again.

“The locals are great because we take over their village for three months,” she said. “It is hard for them. But they loved it and can get involved as well. Some of the locals were extras on the set. They had obviously watched the first series and couldn’t wait for Home Fires to come back.

“It’s such a gorgeous area where we film. It’s stunning and looks amazing on screen,” she added.