The real-life detective behind the new ITV drama Manhunt has praised the show's portrayal of the hunt for serial killer Levi Bellfield.

Retired police officer Colin Sutton, who now lives in Suffolk, is being played by Martin Clunes.

The series follows the investigation that eventually caught the serial killer responsible for the murders of Amélie Delagrange, Marsha McDonnell, and Milly Dowler.

Mr Sutton described the drama as "very, very close" to what actually happened.

He said: "That was one of my stipulations, that if we're going to do this, we're going to do this authentically, we're going to make it right."

Click below for Becky Jago's interview with Colin Sutton

Colin Sutton said tonight's episode (9pm, ITV) was the most emotional for him to watch.

"What really brought it home for me was episode two," he said. "There's a scene in there where I had to go to France and see Amelie Delagrange's family.

"It was the most emotional and moving thing I've ever had to do, in the police or otherwise, and the way it was portrayed, the way it was directed, the way Martin acted it, brought back all those memories to me.

"I was sitting there and I was back in that house in France, it was that good.

"It exceeded all my expectations in terms of being an accurate representation of what we did."