LOCK up your daughters, and your granny just to be safe - the Counterfeit Stones are back in town.

The Rolling Stones' doppelgangers are coming to Tewkesbury's Roses Theatre next week with their highly-acclaimed Keep off the Grass tour, re-living the music and awful costumes of Mr Jagger and his band.

After a sell-out gig at Malvern Theatres, the Counterfeits will be in action next Friday at Tewkesbury with their chronological rendition of the Rolling Stones from 1963 to 1980.

But Counterfeit frontman and self-confessed "prancing prince of pop" Nick (Mutton) Dagger says the band's success is probably more to do with the fact they're not so much a tribute band, more a group who enjoy playing the Stones' music.

"We don't take ourselves too seriously and the show is not just for Rolling Stones' fans," he said.

"It's us being us. Basically it's five guys who enjoy playing together who are big Rolling Stones' fans.

"But there's something naturally funny about the Rolling Stones. So the fact we're funny isn't because we're sending them up, it's because there's no one more faithful to the group than us, so we too are amusing to watch."

Whatever the reason, Nick and the boys have found their niche. The Counterfeits have gained critical acclaim playing numerous gigs of all sizes during their nine years together.

After playing in cable cars in St Moritz for Princess Stephanie of Monaco and friends, a stadium in Tokyo, and for Jerry Hall and even Bill Wyman, the band have become an institution in their own right.

"The Rolling Stones play and act as we do naturally," added Nick.

"Who knows, maybe if we were born 10 years before they were, it could have been us who became the Rolling Stones."

Tickets to the performance, which takes place next Friday, are available at the theatre's box office on 01684 295074.