EAGLED-eyed customers spotted the real Alan Bates back in Craig-y-Don - along with a film crew.

The former Llandudno sub-postmaster used to run the Wool Post and the Post Office in Craig-y-Don with his partner Suzanne.

The campaigner was spotted in Coffee V last month. He was seen beavering away on his laptop.

Mr Bates was played by Toby Jones (Empire of Light, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Detectorists) in ITV's Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which aired in early January.

Coffee V posted on their Facebook: "Lots of excitement at the coffee shop as we had a film crew in with the amazing Alan Bates! His post office may not be in Craig Y Don anymore but this man will always mean so much to so many people in our community and further afield."


It is thought the filming was connected with an awards event.

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Coffee V said they were "happily surprised" when Mr Bates and the crew popped into the cafe.

Mr Bates vs The Post Office focused on the shocking true story of one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history in which hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting due to a defective IT system.

Many of the scenes were filmed in Craig-y-Don for the series; The St David's Hospice charity outlet, on Queen's Road, was re-transformed into the former Wool Post and Post Office. 

Alexandria Mia Geeson and Jennifer Claire Dallaway took over Coffee V last year. 

Alexandria, of Penrhynside, and Jennifer, of Glan Conwy, have already put their own stamp on the business!

Opening hours have been extended, the interior has been decorated and new cakes have been introduced.