NATIONAL panto champions Golden Valley YFC were given a huge reception when they returned to the valleys after their triumph at the Opera House at Blackpool.

They had planned to give their families and locals a single performance at Kingstone High School to show what had earned them the panto crown.

But there was an instant sell-out of 250 tickets with no more room in the school for as many more disappointed people.

The resilient young farmers were determined not to let them down and decided to put on a second performance immediately after the first one.

Two members of the cast, Ben Lewis, who was “borrowed” from Eardisley YFC for the pantomime Where There’s a Will...., and played the role of Rookie the singing crow, and Lindsey Morris, who excelled as Fingers, the singing keyboard cat, were judged to be the best actors at the Blackpool finals.

But many others were commended and credit goes to the whole cast of: George Goring, Jonathan Dyke, Zoe Davies, Hamish Light, Ben Lewis, Kevin Stokes, Alistair Phillips, Erin Stewart, Claire Cianchi, Izzy Sankey, Amy Price, Emma Cianchi, Emily Goring, Victoria Howells, Natalie Bowen, Megan Atkinson, Lorraine Stokes, Victoria Morgan, Lily Hartman- Gerald, Hannah Morgan, Sian de Bell, Samantha Bowen, Charlotte Howells, Aimee James, Amy Scragg, Lindsey Morris, Lewis Lonsdale, Lauren Atkinson, Isabel Probert (Teme Valley), Katie Dyke, Nathan Whiles, Bethan Jones and Rose Salter.

The production was devised and written by David Morris and Clive Dale, the current club president. It was directed by Roddy Jones, Ann Drew and Sue Atkinson.