Vera's Brenda Blethyn opens University of Surrey's crime scene flat

Brenda Blethyn plays Vera in the popular ITV series

The star of ITV's Vera has opened a new "crime scene flat" for forensics students at the University of Surrey.

Brenda Blethyn cut police tape at the event, in a return to the town where she studied at the Guildford School of Acting.

Crime drama Vera stars Ms Blethyn as DCI Stanhope, and has been running since 2011.

The university launched its BSC criminology with forensic investigation course in September.

The crime scene flat, set up to look like it has been burgled, aims to give students a chance to apply their learning in a "hands on" situation.

Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope

At the event, the TV star praised the students' choice of course.

She said: "In another life, it's something I would have liked to have done.

"I'm inquisitive and I would love that problem-solving element."

Course leader, associate professor Claire Rhodes, said: "Crime scene methods and analysing how you can apply them in a controlled environment is an important part of the course and our new crime scene flat helps us put part of the course into a practical setting.

"Learning the art of forensic science means understanding how the theoretical skills can be applied in 'real-life' settings."

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