LIKE comedy gold-diggers, the audience at Blackburn's Lock n' Load Comedy Club discovered a real comedic gem and one that wasn't even on the bill.

Step forward Dave Ingram, a Blackburn 21-year-old with five years' experience on the comedy circuit but who has never told a joke on a stage in his home town.

He finally got his chance at Lock n' Load on Saturday and his arrival on stage was a surprise to the 200-strong audience.

The event was almost a sell-out, but almost certainly would have sold out completely had Dave, with a great reputation on the circuit, had his name on the bill.

Warm and witty, he took the audience through his concerns that his hands were too small and on to working out why the local kids on his street called him "Horse" something to do with his hair, he thinks.

His situation-based humour complemented perfectly the earlier, quickfire acts which came from the same genre as Peter Kay.

City Life Comedian of the Year Andy Watson and Leon Sidebottom certainly fall into that category, while the musings of Martin Tapley, a southerner who grew up in Clitheroe and whose act centred around coping with life while growing up in the town, also raised a laugh.

Paul Betney was one of two comics actually billed in advance. He suffers from a form of sclerosis which makes him shake constantly, a trait on which a fair bit of his act was built.

The other pre-announced comedian was Pam Ford, whose hen night-esque act combined comedy, singing, a whip and chicken breasts.

But by far the star of the night was Dave Ingram. For anyone wanting to fill their venue, get Dave booked and make sure people know he will be there!