The Royle Family's Caroline Aherne is to return with her first new TV comedy series in a decade.

Salford and Manchester-filmed The Security Men will star Oldham-born comic turned actor Bobby Ball alongside Ashes To Ashes and Marchlands star Dean Andrews.

The four-part ITV1 sitcom was created and written by Wythenshawe-raised Aherne and Jeff Pope, who were also the team behind comedy drama The Fattest Man In Britain.

Due on screen in 2012, it features the men on the night shift at a fictional Manchester shopping centre called The Whittington.

It also includes Mrs Brown's Boys star Brendan O'Carroll as a third security guard and Early Doors actor Peter Wight as their shift leader.

Take Me Out host and Max and Paddy actor Paddy McGuinness, 37, from Bolton, plays a local police constable.

Viewers will follow the lives, loves and laughs of the three security guards as they try every trick in the book to keep under the radar of their boss.

Their job is to protect and patrol the precinct but they spend most of their time avoiding any work. The series will also follow the characters home to meet their friends and families.

An hour long pilot show has already been filmed in a Salford shopping precinct with the rest of the series yet to be shot.

Timperley-based Aherne, 47, who is not set to appear on screen, is also the executive producer of the production being made by ITV Studios.

It is her first new comedy series since a single season of BBC2's Dossa and Joe, featuring Anne Charleston and Michael Caton, in 2002.

ITV Director of Entertainment and Comedy Elaine Bedell said: "We're absolutely delighted to be working with Caroline and Jeff, two writers at the top of their game.

"I'm a huge fan of both and believe together they have created some of the best comedy scripts for television.

"Combined with the talent and wit of our cast, The Security Men is a very fresh and exciting project for ITV."

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