THE mystery of Inspector Drake and the Time Machine sees a professor's dead body floating weightless in a study and the disappearance of his daughter - and all fingers point to the time machine.

This comedy by David Tristram is the second in a trilogy of plays with the return of the intrepid Inspector Drake and his trusty sidekick Sergeant Plod who are called in to uncover the puzzle.

By a freak of science the 13th Century heroes are hurtled into the year 2950 and onto the deck of an alien spaceship in the follow up to Inspector Drake and the Perfect Crime earlier this year.

Blackburn Arts Club presents the show in its theatre starting tonight and runs until November 27.

The third and final part of the popular trilogy is planned for next year with the production of Inspector Drake's Last Case.

Tickets for the second instalment are £5 (concessions £4 on Tuesday

and Wednesday only) by calling 01254 52024.

The shows start at 7.30pm.

BODY OF EVIDENCE: Inspector Drake (Mike Ashton, pictured centre) returns to investigate the mysterious death of a professor, along with trusty sidekick Sergeant Plod (Michael New, left) and forensic officer Jack (Paul Heyes)

A FARCE by Ray Cooney, Caught in the Net, is Blackburn Drama Club's December play, from Wednesday, December 1, until Saturday, December 4, from 7.30pm, at the Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn. For tickets, priced £6, call 01254 680137.

COMFORT and Joy, a play by Mike Harding, will be St James' Players' Christmas play, which will run from December 1 until December 4 at St James' School, Lanehead.

For tickets, priced at £5, call 01282 415666 (daytime) or 01282 429797 (evening), or pay on the door.