THE much-loved Westcountry-based actor Edward Woodward is in hospital after breaking his hip.

Mr Woodward, well known for his role in 1980s television series The Equalizer, fell down stairs at his home last month.

He first went to hospital earlier this week after complaining of pain only for doctors to reveal the extent of his injuries. The veteran actor is now facing a hip replacement.

Westcountry casting agent Chris Batters, a friend of the veteran actor, said he spoke to Mr Woodward shortly after his fall.

He said: "I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago and he was not aware that he had broken his hip. He was on crutches and said he was in quite a lot of pain."

Last summer Mr Woodward, 79, was cast as the Rev Frederick Densham of Warleggan in A Congregation of Ghosts, a story of the bizarre life of an eccentric vicar who is said to have alienated his congregation and preached to cardboard cut-outs.

The film was shot in Lewannick and is set for its premiere later this year.

In March, Mr Woodward joined the cast of EastEnders as historian Tommy Clifford.