Only Mary Shepherd had other ideas and ended up staying there for 15 years - inspiring Bennett to write an award-winning play about her.

The Lady In The Van is being performed at Rugby Theatre in Henry Street for a week long run from Saturday.

It's based on Bennett's experiences with Shepherd who he came across in 1974 when she parked her old Bedford in his garden by mistake.

Later, Bennett wrote a brilliantly funny and often moving diary of her life on his doorstep, before turning it into play.

Seasoned actor Lesley Maltman plays Miss Shepherd - a role created in the West End by Maggie Smith.

Lesley, who was last seen in the one-woman show My Brilliant Divorce, said: "In the play Alan Bennett describes Miss Shepherd - among other
things - as a rank, rude, car-mad cow.

"She's slightly bonkers, smelly and obnoxious at times. But she's also a remarkable and complex character, and it's odd to think that she's not just something created in a playwright's imagination, but actually existed.

"It's a funny, poignant play, and of course, it's by one of the greatest writers alive today."

And the unusual play actually features not one but two Alan Bennetts.
The first, played by Howard Scott-Walker, acts as a narrator, while the second, played by Bryan Jones, represents Alan Bennett in real life.

Bryan said: "It's been quite a challenge being Alan Bennett for the past month or so, but great fun.

"I'm not really much of an impressionist, but I hope at least a flavour of Alan Bennett's downbeat Leeds accent and his overgrown schoolboy persona come across when we finally open next month."

Tickets for the play can be bought from the theatre's box office on (01788) 541234.