TALES from behind the scenes at Burnley's Highcliffe Players are told in a new book.

Highcliffe Players Remembered by Pam Wood recalls the mishaps, mayhem and hard work of the group which produced Emmerdale's Richard Moore and Coronation Street's Malcolm Hebden.

The curtain fell on the group in 1989 but yesterday its two most famous sons returned to Burnley to relive their memories with other Highcliffe Players at the book's launch at the Hare and Hounds in Haggate.

Author Pam, daughter of former president Leonard Simpson, said: "A group of us were having lunch and reminiscing one day and the stories were so good I said 'you should write a book it would be a shame to lose all those memories'.

"There are so many funny ones. Somebody fell down a staircase during a performance and half way down she grabbed at a young man who made his first and last appearance on stage as she ripped his clothes off on the way."

Highcliffe Players were founded by Clifford Burrows and his wife Georgina in 1946 and performed 200 plays involving 600 people over the next 43 years.

The players rehearsed at Queen's Gate Church near Duke's Bar for many years and then in 1969 were invited to become the resident amateur dramatics company at Burnley College Theatre where they stayed until the group folded when it got too much for Clifford Burrows, who died in 1991.

His wife died earlier this year but not before she had seen a proof of the book.

As well as Emmerdale's Jarvis and Corrie's Norris the Players started the careers of many drama teachers and members of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Pam said: "Highcliffe Players helped a lot of people on the road to success.

"I think it's partly because of the way it was run. It was quite strict. Everyone was expected to turn up to rehearsal on time and knowing their lines.

"At the same time, everybody would look after everybody else and make sure they got home safely afterwards. They would go on holidays and days out too."

Highcliffe Players Remembered is on sale at Badger Books, Keirby Walk, Burnley and at Burnley Library and costs £6. Money raised will go to Pendleside Hospice.