AS Lynn Chambers and Sally Nettleton stood in the dressing room of a sports and social club in Acklam, they shuddered as they read a warning engraved in the wall.

Obviously left by a previous act that had bombed in front of a hard to please crowd, the warning read "You are now entering the lion's den."

The words rang true and sadly applied to almost every North-East workingmen's club they performed at before moving to London.

But like true showbiz troopers, they look back on those days and smile safe in the knowledge that without going through clubland initiation they would not be where they are now ... poised and ready to grip stardom with both hands.

Critics have likened their comedy rapport to French and Saunders, while some have compared their comic timing to classic double acts Morecambe and Wise and the Two Ronnies.

Although flattered, they remain determined to carve their own niche in the world of stand up comedy.

Sally Nettleton, a former pupil at the Wensleydale school, was raised in Leyburn and often goes back to visit her mother who still lives in the market town.

Trained at the Scottish academy of music and drama in Glasgow, she achieved a degree in drama and began the upward route towards show business recognition.

Lynn Chambers, however, took a different route.

Born in Bishop Auckland and raised in Newton Aycliffe, she studied a secretarial course at Bishop Auckland technical college before securing a job with Flymo where she eventually became a PR manager.

In the evenings she joined a friend to play clubs, hotels and pubs as part of a musical duo.

Seven years ago, Chambers and Nettleton met when they worked as part of the entertainment crew at a Redworth Hall hotel medieval banquet. Immediately they became firm friends.

Leaving her job at Flymo, Chambers went off to work as a singer on cruise ships and Nettleton took on various acting work before becoming part of the Durham theatre company.

They moved in together in Darlington and four years ago made the brave decision to seek out the bright lights of London.

"Sally was doing a bit of stand up on the comedy circuit and I was doing a few jingles and singing gigs," Lynn told the D&S Times, "but we had never thought about doing an act together.

"It was only when a friend's husband, who was a producer at the BBC, said he couldn't understand why we weren't performing as a comedy double act that the seed was planted.

"Friends had always said we should put a microphone where our mouths are, so we gave it a go."

Two years ago they began touring the comedy circuit as Chambers and Nettleton and not long after they found their way to the final of the Hackney Empire new act awards, followed by a three-week run at the Edinburgh Fringe where they received rave reviews.

Now the pair have their own comedy club at Earls Court and are fast becoming two rising stars, according to London theatre and arts critics.

But in an industry where comedy duos are rarely smiled upon, how do these two Northern lasses manage to keep on shining?

"It's easy," said Chambers. "We are the same on stage as we are when we are alone or with friends. The act is really just based on us having a good time."

Nettleton is a little more philosophical. "To be a good double act you have to each give something up to balance it out. It is a bit like playing tennis doubles.

"You have to know what you are both good at and not try to do all the jobs yourself."

Last week they unleashed their unique brand of humour at the Gilded Balloon - the top comedy venue at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Sponsored by Ribena, the girls are on stage every night until August 27, playing to packed houses and enjoying every minute of it.

"It's a far cry away from the Northern clubs," said Sally, "but they did give us a really good grounding.

"Now the roughest clubs in London are the ones we go down in the best. You learn how to turn a hostile audience round and get them on your side. It's just like a second sense."

Stardom is predicted to be just around the corner for these two Northern girls who admit they are joined at the lip. But whatever happens, their first love will always be stand up comedy.

Sally said: "To be on radio or television would be great but at the end of the day its being a live stand up act that makes you good."