Not many film viewers will recognise him - but a former Lancaster man is again playing a key role in one of this year's biggest films.

Andy Serkis, a Lancaster University graduate who started his career at the Dukes' Theatre, plays Gollum, a key figure in the second film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Two Towers.

The on-screen Gollum will be entirely computer generated, though special tech-nology was used to record Andy's move-ments and ensure that the on-screen creation would move in the same way.

He will also provide the character's voice.

Andy is also appearing in another of this Winter's big movies, starring as a First World War soldier in Death-watch, a new British horror film featuring Jamie Bell, star of Billy Elliott.

After graduating from Lancaster University with a degree in Independent Studies in 1985 and joined the Dukes Theatre.

He later graduated to TV work and went on to appear in films such as Topsy Turvy and the big-budget TV version of the Arabian Nights.

This year has also seen Andy feature in the hit 24 Hour Party People in which he appeared alongside Steve Coo-gan, as legendary Man-chester record producer Martin Harnett.

Andy also features in the third Lord of the Rings movie, Return of the King, which is due to be released next Christmas.

Lord of the Rings - the Two Towers, is on general release.