Seeing Hollywood stars strut up and down the high street might soon become the norm after the Queen approved a bill to allow filming on roads in Hertfordshire.

Borehamwood is well on its way to being dubbed the British Hollywood after Hertfordshire County Council’s Filming on the Highways Act 2014 received royal assent.

Hertsmere Borough Council is already home to two major studios, and the new law will make it easier for production companies to have roads in the county closed for filming.

It's a Wonderful Life, The Avengers and Star Wars were all filmed at the ever-popular Elstree Studios. More recently, Channel 5's Big Brother was filmed in the town.

And just a stone's throw away from the Shenley Road studios lies BBC Elstree, where TV soap EastEnders is filmed. 

Councillor Chris Hayward, cabinet member for enterprise, education and skills on Hertfordshire County Council, said: “I am delighted that our Filming on the Highways Act has made such swift progress through parliament.

“It means Hertfordshire is only the second local authority in the country to have these road closure powers.

"Your county council is working hard to boost Hertfordshire’s economy and this new law will attract more production companies to the county, which is already a very popular destination for filming.”

Elstree Studios teamed up with the county council and other authorities to support the act and contribute to the cost of making it law.

It was previously difficult to close roads in Hertfordshire for filming due to legal constraints, but the act simplifies the process.

The authority will now be able to close roads temporarily for filming and to apply for permission to use film equipment on the highway.

Hertsmere MP James Clappison said: "This is very good news as this new law will provide great economic and cultural benefits for Hertfordshire.

"I am very grateful to Hertsmere Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council for their help in supporting this."