When Mavis Walsh was invited to join the cast of a new TV adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel, she had just the right period costume.

Out of the wardrobe she produced her beige ankle length coat, matching gloves and shoes.

She will be seen wearing it in scenes in the new version of Murder on the Orient Express, being made for television and starring Alfred Molina as Hercule Poirot.

The outfit has been a familiar prop in her other thespian role - as a character in murder mystery weekends she organises with her husband Richard and around ten other amateur actors.

"We had to supply our own costumes for the film and I knew I had just the right thing," said Mavis, of Riddlesden, Keighley.

Mavis joined Keighley Little Theatre - now Keighley Playhouse - 48 years ago, aged 15, and has just appeared in the company's latest show, Black Widow.

She has been helping run murder mystery weekends for about two years. Her beige outfit is produced whenever the company perform their drama based on the 1970s American soap, Dallas.

"We have about 18 different stories and we've been quite successful. It's great fun and people seem to enjoy them," she said.

"In April we're giving Murder of the Oxenhope Express at Keighley Rugby Club.

"To take part you just need the gift of the gab and be able to improvise and mix with the guests.

"To give a sense of originality, we make sure we know the location we're in and we refer to local landmarks."

Mavis spent three days on the set of Murder on the Orient Express with friends from Keighley Playhouse, Joan Lewin and Jeanette Wallace.

She is no stranger to the role of an extra, having spent two weeks dressed in 1940s war time gear as an extra in the film Yanks, which was shot in Keighley in the late 1970s.

To contact Dial M, the murder mystery group, telephone 01535 605315.