Production companies are being wooed in a campaign to persuade them to turn a series of detective novels set in Bath into a TV series.

Tourism bosses are hoping that author Peter Lovesey's Bath detective Peter Diamond might follow in the footsteps of Oxford's Inspector Morse.

Mr Lovesey will be in Bath next week to launch his latest novel Stagestruck, which is set at the Theatre Royal, and to reveal more details about the hopes of a TV series.

David Lawrence, director of tourism, leisure and culture at Bath and North East Somerset Council and chief executive of Future Bath Plus, has organised the launch event and will also be talking about the proposal.

He said: "This well- crafted series of books not only feature some of Bath's most well- known locations, but depend for many of their plots on our local history too.

"Bath is already a favourite tourist destination and we believe there is great potential for developing these stories into a popular TV detective series based in the area."

Marketing body Future Bath Plus has taken out an option on the series, which means it has first refusal on negotiating with production companies to get the filming off the ground.

It is working with Bath-based director Giles Foster, who has been involved with series such as Foyle's War and The Four Seasons, which was shot in the city a few years ago.

Although the plans are still in the early stages, Mr Lovesey, the author of 11 books about Det Supt Diamond who is based at Manvers Street police station, said he was hopeful that a series would go ahead.

The author, who lived at Westwood, near Bradford on Avon, for around 20 years but now lives in Chichester, said: "If it happens then of course I would be over the moon, really thrilled.

"With all these things, we don't believe it will really happen until they actually start the filming. There have been a few disappointments all the way along, where things have seemed like they will happen, but this time it does seem to be looking promising.

"They are putting a proposal together and it is looking good to me. I will be thrilled if it comes to something this time."

Jenni Wagstaffe, who runs the council's Bath Film Office, said the proposal had been put together to pitch the idea to television companies, with hopes that it might be snapped up by ITV or Sky.

She said: "We think Bath is obviously a beautiful city and that we have never had our Morse to showcase the city. They are a fantastic set of novels and really show Bath off at its best."