Security was tight at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard at the weekend as the cast and crew of the film Sherlock Holmes arrived at the attraction.

The Medway Messenger exclusively revealed on Friday that scenes for the movie, due to be released next year, are being filmed at the attraction.

Trailers arrived in the car park on Saturday and there were rumours that director Guy Ritchie and star Jude Law, who plays Dr Watson, were on set. There were no sightings of Robert Downey Jr, who plays the famous fictional detective.

Visitors to the attraction were kept under the watchful eye of the set security team and anyone loitering for too long in the car park was soon ushered inside.

Guards were checking anyone looking suspicious in a bid to keep the paparazzi, who were no doubt keen to get a shot of Mr Ritchie after the news of his split from Madonna, at bay.

Dockyard staff might have been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Hollywood stars, but they were remaining tight-lipped about their famous visitors.

Scenes for the lavish Warner Bros production are being shot in Covered Slip 7 at the dockyard, which is being transformed into an 1890s shipyard, with an ocean liner under construction. It is thought other parts of the dockyard are also being used.

The sets are being provided by film services company Turks, whose boatyard is based at Covered Slip 7. Turks will also be supplying maritime sets for filming in London and Liverpool.