A TOURING theatre company which had to postpone its production because of the foot and mouth crisis and a lack of funding has finally hit the road.

Patron, Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson and 100 guests attended a preview of The Girl Who Cut Flowers at the Horse and Bamboo theatre centre in Bacup Road, Waterfoot, before the show began its tour in Huddersfield.

Andrew Rawlinson, arts initiatives and programming manager, said the reaction to the newly re-worked production was excellent.

"It was fantastic to see so many people supporting the latest production, which will also tour for seven weeks internationally next spring.

"For many years, the company has toured local venues using a traditional horse-drawn dray, but significant cuts in touring grants and the foot and mouth outbreak has caused this aspect of the Company's work to be temporarily halted.

"The Girl Who Cut Flowers is a contemporary folk tale for all ages. It tells the story about a young girl, a mysterious goat that steals her soul and the journey she has to make to find it again."

The theatre company has been based in Rossendale since 1978, and since that time more than 70 original shows have been created -- many of which have toured internationally, nationally and regionally.

Mrs Anderson is helping to find alternative grants which may help to re-introduce this part of the touring programme.

Andrew said: "It would be tragic to see this part of the company's work stop -- especially as that is how we arrived at our name. Horse -- because that is what we toured with, and Bamboo -- because we needed something strong and light to build our sets out of!"