MORE than 200 people were evacuated from a theatre when a man claiming to be a terrorist rang to say there was a bomb in the building.

A police rapid response unit was called to Blackburn's Thwaites Empire Theatre just before 8pm as staff interrupted an Elvis tribute concert to tell people to get outside.

After a search of the building, in Aqueduct Street, Ewood, the audience were asked whether they wanted to abandon the event but insisted the show must go on.

Inspector Stuart Bruce said: "In today's climate you cannot take any claim such as this lightly. The theatre staff and the audience reacted very calmly and should be praised for their behaviour."

Michael Berry, project director at the former Red Brick Theatre, told of how a man rang at 7.50pm and said: "This is the Iraqi Front. You have a bomb in your theatre. Death to the Americans."

He said: "Elvis was on stage, half way through 'You Are Always on my Mind,' when suddenly I appeared next to him to tell the audience to leave the building calmly.

"At first I think they thought it was a joke, after all, the music was blaring. I had to tell them that I was serious and could they please evacuate in an orderly manner.

"At the time I felt really calm but afterwards people told me I looked white as a sheet when I appeared on stage and I was definitely sweating."

Elvis impersonator, Steve Preston, 42, from Haslingden, said: "It was really sad seeing all these people who had come for a good night stood out in the cold because of a meaningless phone call.

"The general feeling was that whoever had made this call was not going to spoil the evening and I think I probably gave a bit extra to the performance as a result -- so really the person who made the call made us have an even better night in the end.

"I must admit though, when Mike made the announcement to evacuate I was all shook up!"

Joe Smith, 62, of Arkright Fold, Blackburn, chairman of Blackburn Conservative association and a retired explosives expert for British Aerospace, said: "They handled the situation really well and the audience evacuated calmly.

"We had every confidence in the police and did not worry about entering the theatre again to watch the rest of the show."

Another audience member, Stephen Hughes, 51, from Chapels Road, Tockholes, said: "We were just annoyed that we were able to be intimidated so easily by this mindless act and were worried that it would spoil our night."

The whole drama was captured by an independent camera crew who were filming Steve for a Sky TV documentary, to be shown in December, called The Secret Life of The Stage.