How to import an sql file into mySQL using PHP

I have a PHP file on my server and I want to import that to my mysql database using a PHP script.

Anyone help with this, am doing my nut in as I can't get it to work.

 

<?php

passthru("nohup mysql -u USERNAME -pPASSWORD DBNAME < dump.sql");

?>

i hope it helps

Regards

Alex

 

I have tried that, it appears to run the script but the data in the database does not update...