WEST Dorset is enjoying a burst of Hardymania as Tess Of The D'Urbervilles takes centre stage in the BBC television autumn highlights.

The four-part adaptation - based on the novel by Thomas Hardy - will herald in more television dramas based on fiction set in and around Dorchester, his home town.

That is the prediction by Mike Nixon, secretary of the Thomas Hardy Society, after seeing the opening episode on BBC1.

He said: "I think this will unquestionably boost Hardy's reputation and hopefully bring a new audience to his novels and poetry.

"Directors and producers are looking at other Hardy novels and short stories following the success of Tess.

"I was impressed by the production and particularly by Gemma Arterton, who played Tess.

"Tess was Hardy's favourite creation. He would have approved, I'm sure."

He added: "David Blair, the director of Tess, has said that there could be plenty more to follow this.

"He described the novels as jumbo jets lined up ready for take-off.

"It would be wonderful to see new adaptations of the major novels like Far From The Madding Crowd and The Mayor Of Casterbridge or Jude The Obscure and some of the lesser-known novels.

"And there are so many short stories that could be adapted like On the Western Circuit, The Withered Arm and The Three Strangers. Tess seems to be bringing a bit of Hardymania to the area. There's been a lot of coverage nationally about it - and Tess was on the front cover of the Radio Times.

"It's got to be a good thing if it brings more people to Hardy's works and to the area."

Alistair Chisholm, tour guide and president of the town's chamber of commerce, said Dorchester needed to respond to the Tess boost by making more of what the area already has to offer.

He said: "I think the BBC has done a very good job of it and there will be a ripple effect with people coming to this area. At the moment there's not a lot for visitors apart from some leaflets that the Thomas Hardy Society had produced a while ago.

"They're very good but I feel we need something more now. We already have a lot in this town including the wonderful collection of Thomas Hardy memorabilia in the Dorset County Museum and I think we should make the most of all of it instead of expecting visitors to find it out for themselves."

He added: "There doesn't have to be a big investment but if there are going to be more productions and more people coming here for Hardy then we should make sure they find what they're looking for."

The Thomas Hardy Society's next event is on October 4, the day before the final episode of Tess is broadcast. The event starts with a walk setting out from the mill pond at Sutton Poyntz followed by a meal at the King's Arms in Dorchester which will include a slide presentation by Paul Sturgess on Old Dorset. Call 01305 251501 or 837331 for details.