AN all-singing all dancing show is being planned to raise cash to help save Morecambe's historic Winter Gardens theatre.

Local amateur and semi-professional actors, singers and musicians have pledged their backing.

And Lancaster City Council is now being sounded out for the use of Happy Mount Park to ensure its success.

The woman behind the idea is Dawn Baxter, who says she is sure it will work if local businesses can be persuaded to get on board with offers of help or sponsorship.

She needs offers of help with equipment and manpower for the 'Babes in the Wood' promenade performance being scheduled for October.

Dawn says: "It's a chicken and egg situation at the moment, though. I cannot ask anyone to come forward with money until they know what they will get in return but it's difficult for me to plan ahead on nothing."

Dawn, who has formed the Morecambe Limelights theatre company to stage the show, says she is at present putting together a business plan for the production.

The idea is that it will use various areas of Happy Mount Park - the crazy golf, paddling pool and mini-train, for instance - as sets.

And any profits from the show will go straight to the Friends of the Winter Gardens for use in the historic theatre.

Dawn says: "There is so much goodwill from so many people for this idea that I am sure it will be a success. I would like it to become an annual thing which may even attract people to the resort out of season."

Dawn Baxter in Happy Mount Park with Lancaster City councillor and chairman of the Friends of the Winter Gardens, Cllr Evelyn Archer.