Crime drama Happy Valley will be returning to screens later this year after being commissioned for a second series.

The Yorkshire-based six-part drama starring Sarah Lancashire focuses on a police sergeant searching for a kidnapped girl.

Happy Valley attracted an average of 7.2 million viewers during its first season, with its final episode in series one attracting 7.8 million.

Lancashire won the Female Actor award at the RTS Programme Awards in March this year.  

Joining the current crop will include Downton Abbey actors Kevin Doyle and Amelia Bullmore and Coronation Street alumni Julie Hesmondhalgh and Katherine Kelly.

BAFTA-winning writer and executive producer Sally Wainwright (Last Tango in Halifax, Scott & Bailey) said: “I am thrilled to be embarking on a second series. We were delighted and overwhelmed with the viewers’ response to series one and it’s clear that there’s a huge appetite to see more of the characters and drama among the TV viewing public”.

The series is made by RED Production Company and is produced by Juliet Charlesworth (Scott & Bailey, Clocking Off).

Filming for the second series has begun and will be broadcast on BBC One in 2016.