LOCAL comic Wayne Howard is planning to bring the best in stand-up talent to Stanmore when he hosts a new comedy night at Alfie's Bar on Stanmore Hill.

Wayne, 26, whose show "Serving up Comedy" was previously a fixture at the Flag in Watford and the Purple Turtle in Camden, will be the regular compere of the night, which will run every Wednesday evenings.

He said: "The plan is to have three to five comedians each week, with a nice variety, everything from satire to surrealism. There'll be two sections with the first performers doing sets of 10-12 minutes, followed by a break and then 20-30 minutes for the headliner."

Headline acts booked so far include Robin Ince and Johnny Vegas, while one of the stand-ups on the club's opening night was popular character comic Lloydy the Illegal Street Trader. Wayne has formerly appeared on Vegas's television show "18 Stone of Idiot."

Wayne, who went to the same school (Aylwood) as Little Britain's Matt Lucas, joked: "There must be something in the water in Stanmore - apart from the limescale. The source has yet to be found!" He is also helping to unearth the next generation of comedians among the kids of the borough when he holds a comedy workshop at Hatch End High School on June 22.

Entrance on Wednesdays at Alfie's Bar is £5 on the door, starting at 8.30pm. For more information call Wayne on 07709 038538.