GLASGOW is to double for Britain's most famous police beat thanks to dramatic footage of a demolition.

The Gorbals will transform into Sunhill for scenes to be used in a new episode of The Bill.

Hundreds of local residents watched in awe as the Stirlingfaulds flats were reduced to rubble in just a few seconds earlier this month, marking the end of an era for the area.

And millions of viewers will also get the chance to see the jaw-dropping moment on August 21 as part of one of the ITV show's most exciting storylines yet.

Bosses usually make the popular police drama in East London but they came to Glasgow to film the two 23-storey blocks being flattened.

Part of the story has two Sunhill characters running for their lives as the building they are in is about to explode.

Executive producer Jonathan Young said: "This was a fantastic opportunity to combine a real-life explosive situation with a dramatic episode of The Bill.

"The outcome looks brilliant - real edge-of-the-seat stuff."

The dramatic scenes feature PCs Sally Armstrong and Ben Gayle, played by Ali Bastian and Micah Balfour, putting their lives at risk to gather vital evidence.

A show insider said: "After the script had been written a producer, who is from Glasgow, found out that the tower blocks were being brought down in the city.

"But the episode being filmed isn't actually set in Glasgow - we are just using the demolition of the building."