COMEDIAN Peter Kay made a surprise, unannounced appearance on stage – with his hero Chris Difford from the band Squeeze.

Peter — a lifelong fan of the band — took the audience by surprise as he walked on stage at Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and introduced the songwriter.

He then remained on stage for a freewheeling show lasting nearly two hours as the pair formed an unlikely double act with Chris singing some classic Squeeze songs such as Cool for Cars and Up the Junction along the way.

"Peter and I have been mates for about 10 years," said Chris after the show. "We have done this before occasionally when he's been free and has just come along to a show and we have a great laugh."

A delighted Gayle Knight, creative director at the Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre, said: "We knew that Peter had done the odd gig with Chris and on Wednesday Chris got in touch to ask if we minded him bringing a friend along for a question and answer session in the show.

"Even in the afternoon we didn't know that it would definitely be Peter, we just hoped it would be. It wasn't until they both turned up on the night that we knew what was happening.

"It was a tremendous night and it was great to see the whole audience leaving the venue with such big smiles on their faces."

At the start of the night there were rumours that Chris Difford may be bringing a special guest on as part of the show and the sight of two chairs and two microphones on stage confirmed that something was going to happen but no-one guessed quite what a surprise the night had in store and there were audible gasps as Peter Kay came on the stage.

Peter will be starring in a new BBC series Cradle to Grave based on broadcaster Danny Baker's autobiography for which Chris and fellow Squeeze member Glen Tilbrook have written all the songs for — an album will be released later this year

Peter's most recent live appearances were in front of 14,000 people a night as a special live version of Phoenix Nights sold out the Manchester Arena.

On Thursday the audience may only have been around 100 but he was hugely enthusiastic about the reception.

"The was a belting night," said Peter after show, "I really enjoyed that."

Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre is no stranger to top line comedians.

Jason Manford has chosen the venue to host a monthly Manford's Comedy club night on a Sunday for which he selects all the stand-up performers. And to mark the first anniversary of the comedy club he played a special show at the venue.

"We've invited Peter to come along and do his own show here," said Gayle, "we'll just have to wait and see."