HOLLYWOOD star Alec Baldwin sparked a flurry of interest on Instagram when he posted footage of himself walking along an Alton street on the weekend.

Excited Altonians were quick to take to social media after recognising a number of shops, including Aplan Insurance and Holybourne Flooring, and the Curtis Museum in the background as the film star walked along Normandy Street relaying a funny story about arriving at Heathrow Airport to find his driver had had his car stolen.

Mr Baldwin, 63, later posted a further video walking back up the street, musing about what life must be like in a little town like Alton, as he made his way to the Alton House Hotel where he was staying.

The actor was also spotted on Sunday night, dining with disgraced former BBC journalist Martin Bashir at Mifta’s Indian Restaurant in the Market Square. The pair are former colleagues having worked together for an American broadcast network.

Mifta Chowdhury, the owner of Mifta’s, told the Herald that Mr Baldwin had dined at the curry house not once but twice, having also eaten there alone on Friday night. “He came in on Friday at about 8.45pm on his own and sat next to the window but facing away from it. I didn’t recognise him because I haven’t seen any of his films.” he said.

The actor returned to Mifta’s with Mr Bashir on Sunday when the restaurant was very busy and some of the customers realised it was him.

“A customer on another table told me: ‘One of them is very famous. Let me know how much he tips you!’” Mr Chowdhury said.

The Herald understands they enjoyed a chicken jalfrezi, Bombay aloo, chana masala, three chapattis, pilau rice and two bottles of still water.

Mr Baldwin is reported to have been in Hampshire to film a drama called 97 Minutes about a hijacked plane that has just 97 minutes worth of fuel remaining before it will crash. Filming is believed to have been taking place at Black Hangar Studios, Lasham Airfield, which boasts one of the largest stages in the UK and the country’s largest permanent Green Screen Cyclorama - just the sort of facility needed for a big screen blockbuster.

The role will see Mr Baldwin return to acting for the first time since an incident in October which left him devastated after he fired a prop gun loaded with a live bullet on the set of the film Rust in New Mexico. Tragically, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, was killed and director Joel Souza, 48, injured when the gun went off.