Dramatic scenes filmed in Bolton open tonight's episode of the hit forensic drama Traces, now showing on the BBC.

Set in Dundee but filmed in the town, opening scenes centre around a nail bar caught up in the aftermath of an explosion.

In the show, the nail salon is called ‘Nail Space’ and Laura Fraser, who plays Professor Sarah Gordon, and Michael Nardone, who stars as D.I. Neil McKinven, stand outside in forensic blue suits to investigate the latest explosion.

Filming took place on Corporation Street, where Amico Cafe is based, which became internationally famous after featuring on BBC's Happy Valley.

Le Mans Crescent, a popular location for filming, is also featured as it doubles up as  ‘Dundee'.

The Bolton News: Nail salon in Bolton

Knowsley Street is also shown in one scene as the professor gets close to the explosion site.

The University of Bolton also doubles up as the University of Tayside with the university building seen in the background in some scenes.

The second series of Traces, which first aired on Alibi, begins four months after the dramatic events of the first season finale.

It follows the characters as they seek to catch the person responsible for explosions in Dundee.

Molly Windsor, who plays Emma Hedges, explains how she got to grips with understanding the world of forensic science.

The Bolton News: Traces S2 - Episode 01 - BTS
Picture shows: Laura Fraser filming a scene

“It’s a completely different way of thinking,” says Molly, whose breakthrough came when she took the lead role in The Unloved in 2009, aged just 11.

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“They’re so pragmatic, whereas our whole career is led by imagination and kind of going off on tangents and being led by emotion.

“To learn to be dealing with facts and numbers is a whole different way of thinking. I have an even greater respect for the people who do it, so I feel even less capable.”

The Bolton News: Traces filming in Bolton

Elsewhere, DI Neil McKinven (Michael Nardone) and Professor Sarah Gordon’s (Laura Fraser) seemingly innocent flirtations seemed to have turned to romance, but with both of them married, audiences will be on the edges of their sofas to see if the duo finally give in.

The new series is on BBC iPlayer.