POPULAR and accomplished actor George Cole faces a battle over his garden fence this month.

Cole heads a cast of well-known actors in the comedy Party Piece, at Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud theatre from August 23 to 28.

From the pen of award-winning writer Richard Harris, it also features Emmerdale star Peter Amory in a play set in the gardens of two terraced Victorian houses.

An upwardly-mobile couple hold a barbecue to celebrate the completion of their expensive renovations, but they don't reckon with the interference of their down-at-heel elderly neighbour.

George Cole first became a household name as Flash Harry in five of the St Trinian's films, then again on radio in A Life of Bliss, and on television in A Man for Our Times.

But it was his characterisation of Arthur Daley in nine series of Minder which has ingrained itself on the public consciousness.

Peter Amory, seen recently in Guildford in Trap for a Lonely Man, spent 14 years playing infamous businessman Chris Tate in Emmerdale, while former Woolpack regular Samantha Giles, also seen in Where the Heart Is, co-stars.

Matthew Cottle is known for playing Martin in TV's Game On, Katy Landis starred as Sharon in the television version of Outside Edge, while Finty Williams has overcome her billing of "Judi Dench's daughter" with many theatre performances and TV credits, including Born and Bred and Angelina Ballerina.

Tickets, priced from £13 to £24.50, with concessions available, can be purchased from the box office on 01483 440000.