Over the years there have been many articles about the decline of theatre goers in this country, but I am now not surprised. An “on the spot” Sunday request from my four-year-old grandson to see a pantomime sparked a fruitless search.

We firstly tried our home town, Blackburn, telephoned King George’s Hall – the box office is not open on a Sunday and we were put through to Ticketmaster who, after a ten minute recorded message, then cut the line off. Not ones to give up, we then tried Oswaldtwistle Theatre and Burnley Mechanics. Again, no box office open on Sunday.

Preston Guild Hall? Operators all busy.”

In desperation, Colne Municipal Hall was our next port of call – to be informed that this hall is ex-directory.

I rest my case! No wonder these theatres are in desperate times Name supplied, Blackburn Road, Great Harwood.