MySQL version: 4.0.16
PHP version: 4.3.2

Problem code:
$query = "SELECT * FROM tablename
WHERE columnname LIKE '%<any_eight_digits>%'";
mysql_query($query);

Results:
query fails, mysql_errno() returns 1064 (syntax error)

I have tracked the problem down to the WHERE clause; using any other
number of digits (except eight), the query suceeds. It seems to be a
problem with the comparison logic, because other comparison operators
also fail; specifically, I have tested
WHERE columnname = <any_eight_digits>
and
WHERE columnname = '<any_eight_digits>'


When running the identical query in PhpMyAdmin 2.5.5 RC1, or at the
MySQL command line, the query works without a problem.

I am a PHP/MySQL newbie. Before I rush off and report this as a PHP bug,
can anyone else confirm this behavior, or explain what I am doing wrong?

Peter