Think the nation is going to the dogs? Why not start your own?

That's the intention of a new BBC comedy starring a Chorley man who made his television debut on August 3.

Jon Bond, 27, who grew up in Euxton, features in the six-part show How To Start Your Own Country.

The show, which is the brainchild of comedian Danny Wallace, is an attempt to create an independent nation state with its own territory, security, population, currency and economic policy.

Jon, a former pupil at St Michael's High School, appears in the BBC2 show as the defence minister, despite his only qualification being he once tackled a shoplifter while working for Tesco.

He said: "The show genuinely tries to establish a new country. I think I appear in most of the episodes as the defence minister, although the only invasion plans I made were for Eel Pie Island, on the River Thames, to get us some territory.

"We are currently looking for citizens for the new country through our internet website www.citizensrequired.com. I know it sounds weird but I think people will warm to the idea if they watch the series."

Before moving to his current home in London, Jon lived with his parents, Geoff and Jean, on Pincock Street, Euxton.

He graduated from Kingston University with a degree in music and now works in the music department at Westminster University.

Jon also does the sound engineering for up and coming band The Infadels who have toured with Faithless and The Prodigy and appeared in June at the Glastonbury Festival.

"The band on the John Peel stage just after the rainstorm on the Friday. It was a contrast to the last time I played in Chorley which was with the Lancashire Youth Orchestra at the town hall", he said.

How To Start Your Own Country is on Wednesdays at 10pm on BBC2.