LORD of the Rings is set to become one of the world's most successful film series -- and a former Lancaster man will be the voice behind one of the star roles.

Andy Serkis will be an unfamiliar name amongst the role call of screen legends who make up the Rings cast, but those who visited the Dukes theatre in the mid 1980s might just remember him.

Andy came to the city as a university student and graduated with a degree in Independent Studies in 1985.

He then stayed on in the city as an employee of the Dukes before continuing his careers in a variety of stage and screen roles.

Now, he appears alongside Sir Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett and Elijah Wood in a film tipped to be among the biggest of all time.

The character of Gollum -- played by Andy in the three films, shot in New Zealand by director Peter Jackson -- is a scaly, slimy Hobbit like creature which becomes obsessed with the ring of the title.

The creature will be almost entirely computer generated using ground breaking new technology developed for the film, but it will retain some of Andy's appearance.

Andy's appearance in the first film is described as a 'teaser' though he will feature prominently in the next two films, which will be released in the next two years.

The first film in the series, Fellowship of the Ring, goes on release on Wednesday, December 19.