THE Cotswold Players return this month with a production of The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley, a play the company have put on before.

"That was back in the 1960s though," said cast member Dave Kilmister, "so no comparisons can realistically be made between the two."

Ridley, better known as Godfrey in Dad's Army, wrote The Ghost Train in 1925, apparently inspired by taking a railway journey that was delayed near Bristol.

The Ghost Train is a classic period play full to the brim with suspense and mystery.

Set in the 1920s, the creepy action takes place in a Cornish railway station that has a dark secret.

This secret slowly comes out as some stranded passengers are forced to spend the night there.

Various characters become embroiled and things are not always as straightforward as they seem.

The cast of characters includes Charles and Peggy Murdoch, played by Claire Fairbairn and Nathan King, Richard and Elsie Winthrop, played by Dave Kilmister and Aileen Robertson, station master Saul Hodgkin, played by Ken Allinson and a host of others.

"The play is always a crowd-pleaser," said Tim Howard, making his directorial debut for the company.

"I'm thrilled with the cast we've got - it's a mixture of new, youthful members and experienced performers and features the players' actor and actress of the year, Richard Loftus and Claire Fairbairn."

The production runs at the Cotswold Playhouse, Parliament Street, Stroud from Tuesday, October 18 to Saturday, October 22.

The curtain goes up at 7:30pm nightly.

Tickets are available from the Stroud tourist information office at the Subscription Rooms, priced £9.

Concessionary tickets are available, priced £6, on the Tuesday and Wednesday only.