Production of Apple TV+ series Lady in the Lake has been halted after the producers said they were threatened with violence if they did not pay a sum of $50,000 (£43,000).

The Baltimore police department confirmed to NBC News a group of locals had contacted producers working on a shoot on Park Avenue in the downtown area around 4pm on Friday.

They threatened to return in the evening to shoot someone if production did not cease.

The producers were told to pay the sum to the group before filming would be allowed to continue.

Staff decided to “err on the side of caution” and halt production.

They elected to reschedule filming and look for another location after receiving the message, the police department said.

“Friday afternoon, on the Baltimore set of our production ‘Lady in the Lake,’ prior to the arrival of the cast and crew, per their call time, a driver on our production crew was confronted by two men, one of whom brandished a gun directed at our driver, and then they fled the location,” said series producer Endeavor Content in a statement.

“We are working with the Baltimore Police Department as the investigation is ongoing. The safety and security of our crew, cast and all who work across our productions is our highest priority, and we are thankful no one was injured.

“Production will resume with increased security measures going forward.”

The series, which began filming in April, stars Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram.