HIS deer-stalker hat, violin and razorsharp mind made him the original and best-loved fictional detective.

And with the Sherlock Holmes story being reworked for the silver screen, people living in his creator’s home town have arrived at an elementary conclusion.

They believe the new movie – from director Guy Ritchie and with a cast including Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law – will bring hordes of fans to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s house at Crowborough when released next year.

Windlesham Manor, his home for 23 years, is now a residential home, but the author is still one of Crowborough’s most famous former inhabitant and his statue at Crowborough Cross is one of the town’s best-loved monuments.

Linda Butcher, town council clerk, said: “The new film will increase the public’s interest in Conan Doyle and will raise the profile of his former home.”

Jenny Cooper, film commissioner for Screen South, the film and media agency for the South East, said: “The fact Sherlock Holmes is being filmed in the South East, using UK talent, means it is going to be a very talked about film.

“Conan Doyle is so famous for creating these characters and no one seems to tire of him.

“When the film My Boy Jack about Rudyard Kipling was released last year, visits to his former home, Bateman’s near Burwash, in Sussex, increased dramatically.”

“Sussex is popular as it has very different locations.

“A lot of areas in Brighton and Eastbourne can double as London and the area has a good infrastructure of crew who already live there.”

There are benefits for tourism income too. Ms Cooper said: “Years after a film has been made people will still come to visit.”