TELEVISION star Mollie Sugden has written to a new drama group to wish them luck in for their first production.

The Hoghton Players - known affectionately as the Luvvies - are getting ready to stage the comedy Friends and Neighbours by Austin Steele.

They received the good luck message after writing to the popular comedy actress and star of Are You Being Served for advice when they learned that she starred in the first West End production of the show.

She wrote back: "I sincerely hope that the cast of the Hoghton Players enjoy themselves as much as we did.

"It was a wonderful production of a very funny play, made all the more special by a cast which included many other favourites of the day including Valentine Dyall and Jimmy Clitheroe's old sidekick, Danny Ross."

The play is being performed at Hoghton Village Hall on Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm.

Details are available from Ian Murphy on 01254 852258.

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