PANTO fun strikes in Leigh later this month -- and we had a glimpse of what is in store when St Joseph's Players appeared on the ITV programme "Panto Mania" last month -- introduced by my least favourite presenter Paul Crone.

The season is now in full swing and rehearsals are well underway at Chapel Street for this year's production "The Adventures of Ali Baba" which opens on January 24th.

This year's bumper traditional show was once again written and is being directed by Doreen Johnson -- and will no doubt draw in coachloads from all over the area.

My favourite memory of St Joe's pantos goes back to the sixties and featured a young Tony Manniex, the Leyther with a personality as big as himself, as a pirate.

He made me laugh then -- and the Leigh "Pon o' lobby", now taking up space in Tyldesley (or so Gommy tells me) -- and still does 30 years on. Book now for a fun night.