A PANTOMIME based on the timeless fairytale classic, Beauty and the Beast, is to be brought to the stage by a North Yorkshire dramatics group.

Northallerton Amateur Variety Company will be performing its panto at the Forum on Bullamoor Road in Northallerton from Saturday, January 25 until January 31.

The group staged its first pantomime in the town in 1978 and last year the group raised £5,000 for local charities with its production of Sleeping Beauty.

The money was shared between the Dales School Hydrotherapy Pool Appeal and the Friarage hospital’s MRI Scanner Appeal. No local charity has yet been selected for this year's fundraising.

The cast of 13 principals and a chorus of 18 children have been working on the current production since the beginning of November. They include Aaron Turner as Prince Danton, Emma Tomkinson as Belle and Chris Graham as the Beast.

Matinees are at 2.15pm on Saturday, January 25 and Saturday January 31 and all other performances will begin at 7.15pm.

Tickets to this year’s show are available from Boyes Store in Northallerton from January 7 until January 14 between 10am and 4pm or at the Forum in Northallerton on 01609-776230.

Tickets can also be bought directly from the variety company on 01609-770936.