SUCCESSFUL comedian Chris Addison had to cancel his appearance at The Humour Section, in Darwen Library Theatre, at the last minute for an undisclosed personal reason. It may not have been a laughing matter but his replacement certainly was.

If the idea of a stand-up poet conjures up images of Pam Ayres then you've got to see Bolton's very own Mr Hovis Presley in action.

His dry wit and ingenious play on words is something special. Take, for example, his visit to the doctor when he was asked "What are the symptoms?" "An American cartoon family," came the reply. "Let me give you a prescription." "It's okay I know what they look like."

Then of course there was the story about the wrongly imprisoned Welsh photographers -- The Tenby Eights.

Chris' support act Jo Enright was also unavailable. Apparently she decided to go to Canada instead. The half-full theatre wasn't to be disappointed with hilarious Geordie Gavin Webster, who filled her shoes.

Gavin Webster is carefully crafting his own style and, judging by his performance, is well on the way to perfecting it. His laid-back attitude and laddish humour had Darwen in stitches. He praised the comedy god when an unsuspecting front rower gave him one of his best lines of the night by revealing she was the victim of dietist bullies at school. The Humour Section is unique in these parts and needs more support if it is to prosper. The next act is booked for September to allow promoter Mick Davies the chance to check out new talent at the Edinburgh Festival.