THE Journal's 'Sven' look-alike scored a hit with youngsters when he made a guest appearance on children's TV.

Colin Lyne, a photographer for the Journal and sister paper the Bolton Evening News, appeared as the Swedish England manager for a football themed show and reckoned it was one of the highlights of his look-alike career.

The CBBC satellite programme Exchange was televised live with Colin working alongside children's favourite, Vinnie the Ferret.

In the show 'Sven' announced the England team line-up for Euro 2004, with Exchange presenters Joe and Tony, dressed up in the full England kit hoping to be selected. However, 'Sven' only wanted Vinnie the Ferret for the England team -- as mascot.

It evolved that 'Sven' was a fraud and was part of a scam that mischievous Vinnie the Ferret had concocted.

Later in the programme 'Sven' took part in a phone-in answering children's questions.

Afterwards Colin revealed: "I loved working on the show very much. It is one of the best things I've done. It was the highlight of my career apart from meeting Sven.

"It is good to work on children's TV as it is quite funny. I also liked working with Vinnie the Ferret. I was impressed with the puppeteer who worked with Vinnie -- he was clever and ad-libbed very well."

Colin revealed that a perk of the job was being driven to the BBC studios in a 'Mercedes' by the late Sir Laurence Olivier's chauffeur. He was given star treatment and his own dressing room.

He said: "I was dropped in at the deep end -- I did one rehearsal which lasted about 10 minutes. It does get the adrenaline going when the filming crew counted down from ten to one until the cameras started rolling. I had butterflies in my stomach."

Colin is currently working with T-mobile in helping to promote Euro 2004.

He said: "I am grateful to Newsquest, the company that runs the Bolton Evening News and Leigh Journal, for allowing me the time off from my day job to do my other job as a Sven look-alike."

Soon he will be jetting off to sunny Portugal for more Sven capers.