Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne spotted in Staffordshire

The 34-year-old British actor, who plays the lead role in the latest Harry Potter film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was snapped on Stone high street with a local tea room owner.

Fiona Flower, 41 from Arthur Street in Stone, who runs Fleur Team Rooms, was setting up a stall at the Stone Christmas market when she spotted the actor walk past.

She explained: "I was setting up a stall at the Christmas market for the tea rooms and he was just walking up the high street.

"It was fab. It was one of those weird moments where you think 'oh I know him'. He walked past me and went into a shop but I know my children are massive fans so I waited around and got a photo with him when he came out.

"He was lovely, really nice. He said he needed to be quick but I think after he took the photo with me he got mobbed by a group of school girls who spotted him as well.

"He has been spotted in the high street a few times now and somebody said that he lives local.

"I am hoping he will come back and visit the tea rooms and I think my Saturday girls are as well!"

Mrs Flower posted the image on Facebook and it has since gone viral, attracting hundreds of shares and thousands of views.

She said: "I am not a big Facebook person but it has just gone absolutely everywhere. Last time I looked it had around 70,000 views which to me is surreal.

"I did not put the picture online for the tea rooms, it was just a bit of fun. But if the picture helps to put Fleurs on the map then even better."

It is not the first celebrity Mrs Flower has met in Stone after receiving a visit from Bake Off Queen Mary Berry about a decade ago.

She said: "I keep going to say no when asked if I have met any other celebrities locally but I met Marry Berry probably 10 years ago when the tea rooms had not long been open. She was attending the Stone food and drink festival and popped in to see my shop."

This latest picture comes after he was spotted in the county earlier this year, first in a Co-op in Eccleshall and then filling up his car at a petrol station in Stone.

He was also spotted at Sandon point to point earlier this year.

As well as his Staffordshire spottings, Eddie, who portrayed Steven Hawking in the Theory of Everything, has also been snapped in the Black Country.

Back in December last year the actor was spotted wandering around Ikea in Wednesbury.

The various sightings have sparked rumours that the recent OBE recipient now lives locally.

Eddie's latest film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which opened in cinemas in November, has made more than $600 million at the box office.