BUSINESSES in Wallingford have enjoyed a big boost in trade thanks to fans of TV crime drama Midsomer Murders.

According to South Oxfordshire District Council , coach trips to the town doubled between 2013 and 2014, and there was a 60 per cent increase in hits on the ‘Visit Midsomer’ website.

Four tour companies offer visitors an inside experience into the long-running drama, now on series 18, including Sho4 Travel, which has seen an increase from 42 individual tours in 2014 to 63 already this year.

Company owner, Steve Hodgkinson, 63, of Thame, puts the interest down to websites such as Netflix.

He said: “These tours are great for the area because the fans stay in local hotels for the week, eat the local food and enjoy all the area has to offer.”

The former pub landlord, who runs tours twice a week, said the biggest Midsomer fans are from Scandinavia and Amsterdam, followed by the USA.

Mr Hodgkinson charges £250 for a day-long tour for up to six people, with stops including Dorchester-on-Thames, Warborough and Long Crendon, where scenes from episodes have been filmed.

The director of rival firm Absolute Touring, Martin Cowell, said: “Business is certainly booming and we’re seeing more visitors from abroad than ever before.”

Mr Cowell said his firm had seen a 29.9 per cent increase between 2013 and 2014 and an impressive 106 individual bookings last year.

He said “What the fans are most interested in is feeling like they’re actually in the village of Causton.

“They want to immerse themselves in the area by eating, sleeping and breathing like a real Causton local.”

Elaine Hornsby, manager of First Edition Clothes Shop, Wallingford, said: “There are more people in the cafes, restaurants and pubs and that’s bound to have a knock-on effect on local business and trade – it’s brilliant.”

A spokeswoman for the show’s production team said: “All the way from series one to the current series, Wallingford and the neighbouring towns have given us a wonderful welcome.”