HOLLYWOOD star Dominic West has come to the Forest to learn the lingo for his role as serial killer Fred West.

The star was spotted buying CDs of local poet Dave Harvey at the Dean Heritage Centre in Soudley.

The Eton-educated English actor is best known for learning a Baltimore accent for the critically acclaimed American TV series The Wire. He is about to start filming the ITV drama Appropriate Adult when he will play West in period between his arrest and suicide.

Centre manager Nathalie Hall thought it was a look-a-like customer when she first spotted Dominic talking to staff and recognised the winning smile that has made him a heartthrob on both sides of the Atlantic.

"Later on I asked if it was him and he seemed a bit taken aback," she said. "He was on site for several hours and talked to people about the Forest and what it was like. He bought Dave Harvey's CD so I presume he was researching the accent."