Not long into ZOO's trip to the outskirts of Baltimore, a run-down, crime-ravaged city on the east coast of America, we are heart-pumpingly, mum-wantingly terrified.

We've just asked our tour guide Vince Peranio - the production designer on The Wire - if there were any genuinely dangerous moments while filming the legendary crime show based in the city, which has been a massive cult hit in the UK.

"Well, we were filming one night and there was a shoot-out a couple of blocks away," shrugs Vince casually. "Then someone staggered onto our set, covered in blood, and collapsed. We had to call an ambulance."

We shift awkwardly as the car turns into another preposterously scummy, crack den-ridden road. But Vince isn't finished: "Oh, and once, the day before we were about to shoot, the night workers found a dead woman by the rail tracks we were due to film on."

Real-Life Dealers!
This is East Baltimore, for five years home to the award-hoovering drama The Wire. It's also known as the homicide capital of America and clocked up 276 murders in 2006 - the second highest of all major US cities behind Detroit.

ZOO's tense tour around the real-life drug dens, boarded up buildings and deserted streets that handily doubled up as the set for five series of the show rattles along. Scary, toothless blokes sat on stoops eye us suspiciously.

We're joined by The Wire cast member and Baltimore-native Robert F Chew, aka Jabba-faced druglord Proposition Joe, who happily tells us the line between reality and TV can be fuzzy.

The show's creator David Simon agrees, telling ZOO real dealers love The Wire. "We have our characters using the same techniques as real-life drug dealers," he laughs. "I've seen real wire-tap transcripts of dealers discussing the show as fans. It's very funny!"

On-Set Heavies
The Wire's intimidatingly realistic street cred also extends to the cast. Husky-voiced ladette assassin Snoop was played by Felicia Pearson - who served eight years for second-degree murder before appearing in the show.

"She's a really nice girl, but I think she's in trouble with the law again," explains Robert. His own Proposition Joe character is even based on a real Baltimore hoodlum ("I've been told he's thinner by a fan," he jokes).

But don't the very-real drug dealers - currently grimacing at ZOO as we hastily take pictures - get annoyed when they're slung off their corners for the TV show?

"I'd often pick real drug corners and send the big security guys to go over and talk to the dealers," answers Vince, who used to scout locations for the show. "They had to explain what we were doing - all the time we were filming, the dealers were losing money. So we sent really big guys!"

Lairy Locals
ZOO's soon spotted by some real street kids who clock Robert and call us over to where they're drinking beers on a step.

Before long, they're posing for pictures and asking us to send copies of ZOO to them. "They were probably drug dealers," says Vince matter-of-factly as we walk away.

Next, we visit a blingtastic rim shop which doubled as a druglord's hideout in the series. Shop worker Kevin tells us: "I love The Wire. Some people think it's shocking - but that's Baltimore!"

The tour rattles on to even more intimidating areas. People pose for pictures, but there is a definite undercurrent. "We probably shouldn't stay here too long," says Vince suddenly, as we stop at an eerily quiet corner.

"There was a shootout here last week. One person was murdered and four seriously injured. If we brought you here on a Friday night, you'd see some action..."

The Wire Season 5 DVD is out now. For further information on travel to Baltimore, visit http://www.capitalregionusa.co.uk/ or call 0208 339 6048 for a brochure.

PUB FACT: To ensure realism, The Wire uses four types of fake blood - different ones for eye blood, dried old blood and various wounds.