December 5, 2000 11:10: "THATS the way to do it" will be the cry from hundreds of cinema-goers as they try to spot an unlikely star in Disneys latest blockbuster 102 Dalmatians.

For among all the top Hollywood actors will be...a Punch and Judy man from Sidcup. But John Styles is not any old Punch and Judy man. After 50 years in the business, he is acknowledged as one of the worlds experts.

Without giving too much of the plot away, Mr Styless show in Regents Park during the film, released this week, provokes an hilarious chase across the park. Although the audience will not see him on screen, there is no mistaking his squeaky voice and classic childrens entertainment.

Mr Styles, now 66, was 16 when he started in the business. He was working in a magic shop in London when owner Oscar Oswald persuaded him to take up "the dolls" with the words: "Treat Mr Punch right, and you will never be left."

Since then he has never looked back. He has performed in parks all over the country, has appeared in some classic childrens television programmes such as Playschool, Crackerjack and Rainbow and appeared in theatres at home and abroad.

But as he celebrates 50 years in the business, he says the pinnacle of his career is appearing in a Hollywood film set to be a hit all over the world.

Also a magician, he acted as advisor on a new production of A Christmas Carol, appeared with Whitney Houston and has been working on a television series starring Tom Hanks and called Band of Brothers - a sequel to Saving Private Ryan.

Throughout this hectic schedule, Mr Styles has still found time to entertain local children and to perform his table illusions at the West End restaurant Smollenskys.

He is an acknowledged expert on the Punch and Judy tradition and has lectured at a number of renowned venues. After lecturing at Londons Royal Society of Arts, he was awarded a fellowship. He is also a Gold Star member of the Magic Circle.

Linda Piper