STAFF at the Grand Opera House put their detective skills to the test in the run-up to Ruth Rendell’s murder mystery arriving in York next month.

Marketing assistant Ben Papworth is pictured in detective mode as box-office manager David Rennie plays dead at the Mount Royal Hotel in preparation for A Judgement In Stone's run at the Cumberland Street theatre from October 16 to 21.

Rendell's thriller tells the story of Eunice, who struggles to fit in. The reason for her awkwardness, long hidden and deeply buried, leads to a terrible tale of murder in cold blood on St Valentine’s Day.

Chris Ellison, best known for playing Frank Burnside in The Bill, Sophie Ward, from Young Sherlock Holmes, and Drop The Dead Donkey’s Robert Duncan will lead the touring cast.

Tickets for the 7.30pm evening performances and 2.30pm and 7.30pm Wednesday and Saturday matinees are on sale on 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com/york