PANTO audiences have proved that there’s nothing like a good old collection bucket when it comes raising cash for good causes.

Front of house staff at York Theatre Royal holding buckets for small change over the festive season have so far raised more than £15,000.

More than 45,000 people have passed through the theatre’s doors since Old Mother Goose opened on December 11.

And during the shows famous songsheet moment – when the audience is split in half and has to compete to sing the loudest – the UK’s longest running panto dame, Berwick Kaler, asks the audience to help the theatre raise the last £500,000 of the £4.1m needed for its planned refurbishment.

“Our panto audience is the most loyal in the country,” said Berwick.

“Me babbies and bairns are always game for a laugh and I knew they would be game when it came to supporting the re-development too.”

Sales manager Rachel Naylor added: “We know that Christmas is an expensive time of year for people, but we hoped that if they were at the theatre having a good time they might be tempted to give a little, and we already had the buckets so we went for it.

“The response has been totally overwhelming and once again shows the community spirit that exists here in York.”

It isn’t the first time audiences have been asked to drop some money in a bucket at the theatre. The audience of Northern Broadsides’ She Stoops to Conquer raised £4,827 during a week-long production of in November.

And with the panto running until January 31 it’s now expected that money donated by audiences will make a significant contribution towards the re-development.

In March the theatre will close its doors for eight months to undergo its most significant capital refurbishment in 50 years.