Following in the footsteps of comedy clubs in Blackburn and Burnley, the ACE Centre in Nelson has started First Friday Frolics.

Growing in popularity every time, the auditorium is packed to the rafters with all ages from teens to pensioners.

The evening takes the simple but effective format of three comedians each introduced by the host and compere for the evening, with a different line-up each month.

On this occasion the compere was Peter McCole, who started out doing stand-up as “a bit of a laugh” and within six weeks was headlining a sold-out night at Liverpool’s Rawhide Club.

The opening act was Roland Gent, an award-winning stand-up comic, actor and radio presenter whose set consisted of gag after gag taking in politics and his personal life.

He used newspaper cuttings as a springboard for his jokes.

Second to follow was Graham Goring, a video-game designer by day and self-confessed geek, who uses an overhead projector to set up his perfectly-honed, quickfire gags about everything from phobias, retirement homes, board games and internet dating to sock puppets and zoos.

The headline act for the evening was Michael Redmond, best known for his role as Father Paul Stone in Father Ted, as well as appearances on Comedy Nation on BBC2 and Clive Anderson Talks Back on BBC1.

With his shock of white hair, droopy moustache and a face that the word “hangdog” was invented for, he is a natural for deadpan comedy and had the audience in stitches.

The aptly-named night takes place on the first Friday of every month in the spanking new multi-purpose arts and entertainment venue in Nelson town centre.

There is an option of two ticket prices, one that includes a meal deal for £12 or entrance alone for £6 in advance, £7 on the door.

To book tickets for First Friday Frolics, call The ACE Centre on 01282 661080.