PANTO stars took time out before a matinee performance yesterday to help the Cancer Research Campaign.

They were urging North-East people to take part in Britain's Biggest All-Day Breakfast.

The stars worked up an appetite for breakfast before they went on stage at Newcastle's Theatre Royal.

John Nettles of TV's Bergerac fame, Lesley Joseph from Birds of a Feather and Jeffrey Holland from Hi-De-Hi launched the campaign to raise vital cash for the charity.

Last year, the event raised £165,000 so this year's target is £200,000. The campaign, in partnership with Kellogg's All Bran, is calling on people to host breakfast parties for family, friends and colleagues on March 2.

By asking party guests to donate a minimum of £1 each, breakfast hosts will be playing an important role in this major fund raising event.

The campaign's regional director Pat Bradley said the event had been a huge success for the past two years. Thousands of breakfast parties had taken place in homes, schools and colleges, work places, community centres and hospitals. To take part, call the campaign's breakfast hot line on (01372) 807000.