IF you went down to the woods last week you would have been in for a big surprise.

Oh yes you would! For a host of stars took a trip to Stanley Park on Thursday (June 15) to promote this year's Blackpool Grand Theatre pantomime Robin Hood and the Babes In The Wood and are pictured here causing mayhem.

Penned again by the wickedly witty Tom Bright, a star-studded cast includes Jonathon Morris --the poetry mad Adrian of Carla Lane's Bread -- children's TV presenter Alex Lovell, cheeky comic Johnnie Casson and Tom's wife Diane Lee Carol as well as his old partner in crime John Peate.

Tom said of his latest venture: "I'm writing four pantos this year and directing two -- Blackpool and Rhyll -- so it's a bit mad. I'll be dashing backwards and forwards a lot. "As for the script, it will be a rewrite of the Robin Hood performed last year in Rhyll but with a Blackpool twist.

"You can get away with a lot more in Blackpool because people are ready for a good laugh and are a bit more open minded. Mind you, there aren't enough lines in it for the dame for my liking so we'll be seeing to that."

Tom's wife Diane joins her busy husband this year as Maid Marion in the land of tights and thigh-slapping. "This our first panto together as the children were too small to be left before but now we've roped the grandparents in," she said.

"And I'm really excited about being in panto at the Grand Theatre as it's another first for me, even though I've done a lot of pantomime around the country. Let's hope we don't fall out over the make-up."

Robin Hood and the Babes In The Wood opens at Blackpool Grand Theatre on December 13 and runs until January 6. For further information call the box office on (01253) 290190.