Magical nights of panto

The 30-plus actors in the church's recent production of Aladdin were delighted to bring in the large sum in aid of St Wilfrid's Hospice and church funds.

Cast member Julie Swann said: "We were particularly keen to support St Wilfrid's this year in memory of Pat Floyd.

"She had thoroughly enjoyed being part of last year's production of Cinderella and had looked forward to taking part this year.

"But she sadly died last November, having received excellent care and support from St Wilfrid's."

The latest production was greeted enthusiastically by the audiences at three sell-out performances in the church hall. They were full of fun, music, dance and audience participation.

Good eventually triumphed over evil, as it does in all pantos, with the wicked Abanazer taken off to work in Twankey's laundry.

He had first, though, attempted to trap the good but gullible Aladdin into making him very wealthy with ill-gotten gains.

Help was present in the form of the resident angels, Sanctimonious and Ludicrous, and their supervisor, Governicus.