ONE of the fendered friends from the 1968 film version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang roared into the region yesterday to promote the musical's North-East theatre run... even if the original magical machine is no longer roadworthy.

While a new £1m version of the car - the most expensive stage prop in history - will fly overhead at Sunderland's Empire Theatre at Christmas, its much-loved predecessor chugged carefully around the grounds of Lumley Castle, in Chester-le-Street.

Philip Watson revealed that the 30-year-old car he helped to restore, with its GEN 11 registration, travels by lorry in a heated stall.

He said: "The car is not registered for road use, it does not have any lights for a start."

At the wheel was West End star Tim Flavin, who plays incredible inventor Caractacus Potts, with the two North-East nine-year-olds chosen to become the professor's children, Jeremy and Jemima. Tom Hunter, from Tamarind Close, School Aycliffe, County Dur-ham, and Leyci Wightman, of Froude Avenue, South Shields, South Tyneside, were selected from hundreds of hopefuls.

The pair will travel to London next month to begin rehearsals for the £6m musical, which will be at the theatre from December 9 to March 4.

Tom, who is a member of the Darlington Stagecoach drama school and attends Heighington Primary School, said: "I am told we may get £200 a week for this and I am giving some of my money to Children In Need and earthquake relief in Pakistan."

He has appeared on stage at Darlington's Civic Theatre in a professional production of Dracula, but the 12-week run will be a debut for Leyci. The Ashley Primary School pupil attends the David Ducasse Performers stage school, in Boldon, and the Barry Shepherd Dance Academy.

She said: "I never thought I would get through all the auditions, but now both of us want to go further with our stage careers. We have got the bug."

Tickets for the show are from £16, with concessions available.

To book, contact the box office on 0870 602 1130.