It's not every day an Oscar-winning actress turns up at your house. But that's exactly what happened yesterday to retired couple John and Anne Veasey.

Dame Judi Dench pitched up at their semi in Eastbourne to film a screen adaptation of Zoe Heller's Booker-prize nominated novel Notes On A Scandal.

The actress created a fizz of excitement as she shot scenes inside the couple's three-storey home on Royal Parade, opposite the fishermen's club.

The five-bedroom, semi-detached property was transformed from a comfortable family home into a busy film set for the day.

Gangs of film trucks parked outside as police sealed off part of the seafront road to allow Dame Judi's filming to be done free of distraction.

A group of fans gathered outside the house eager to glimpse the star actress, who won a best supporting actress Oscar in 1999 for her role as Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love.

However, she was shielded from view for most of the day as she filmed in the Veaseys' kitchen, sitting room and dining room.

Some of their neighbours ventured on to their balconies and tried to peer beyond a black sheeting covering the front of the house.

Mr and Mrs Veasey said they were thrilled to have an Oscar-winner in their home.

Mr Veasey, 79, said: "We'll have to get a plaque put on the chair, saying: Dame Judi Dench sat here.' It's very exciting to have her here."