Gothic crime drama Whitechapel is shelved by ITV

Rupert Penry-Jones' other screen credits include BBC dramas Silk and Spooks

ITV gothic crime drama Whitechapel has been axed after four series, the cast and crew have confirmed.

Its star, Rupert Penry-Jones, broke the news via Twitter, saying that "ITV don't want any more Whitechapel".

The decision to end the show is part of ITV's efforts to "continue to refresh the channel's drama portfolio", it said in a statement.

The show chronicled a police unit investigating brutal murders in east London.

Penry-Jones, who starred alongside Steve Pemberton and Phil Davis, said in his Twitter message: "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news everyone, but ITV don't want any more Whitechapel. That's all folks."

Series director Jon East also shared the news of the programme's demise via Twitter, saying: "We went out on a bang! Shame nevertheless. It was a great roll, a terrific cast and crew firing on all cylinders. So, onwards!"

"Whitechapel has been a successful drama commission since first broadcasting in 2009. The commissioning team continue to refresh the channel's drama portfolio, hence the decision not to commission beyond the fourth series," ITV said.

The concluding episode of the final series was screened last month, picking up just over four million viewers. The opener of series one, shown in February 2009, was watched by more than nine million people.

Ripper Street, the drama set on the crime-ridden streets of Victorian Whitechapel, is currently running on BBC One.