THE smashing of the Portland spy ring of the early 1960s is at the centre of a play now in rehearsal at the Wharf Theatre in Devizes.

Pack of Lies, by Hugh Whitemore, received rave reviews when it was first performed in the West End in 1983. It involves an ordinary couple, Bob and Barbara Jackson, who are approached by an MI5 officer to allow the security services to use their home to spy on the couple across the road, Peter and Helen Kroger, who they suspect of working with Russian agent Gordon Lonsdale.

The play is being directed by Kim Wright and it is due to be staged from March 14 to 23. Tickets will shortly be on sale at Devizes Books.