Dynasties elephant scene shot using cameras from Basildon

The tense scene saw rangers come within touching distance of danger when they passed by a herd of elephants in the pitch-black of night.

BBC crew members used thermal imaging cameras to show viewers the lucky escape.

The cameras were actually manufactured thousands of miles away at aerospace engineering firm, Leonardo - based in St Christopher Road, Basildon.

The small, portable camera, called a ‘superhawk’ has 400mm zoom lens, meaning operators can sit safely in a hideaway location and still zoom in to capture detailed footage such as the one seen on Dynasties.

A spokesman for Leonardo said: “Every time we help capture previously unseen footage, we feel a sense of immense pride, as we’ve helped make the tribulations faced by these tough film crews worth all of their effort.

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“It is so important that new generations of viewers can gain a deeper understanding of why we must protect wildlife and the wider environment.”

The BBC has used equipment from Leonardo on numerous occasions over the years, including for other David Attenborough series such as Seven World, One Planet.

Cameras have been able to capture jaguars in Mumbai and European wolves.

Bosses say Leonardo equipment continues to be the preferred choice for the BBC as it allows animals space to roam away from cameras and act more naturally.