A frolicking laugh-a-minute, all-singing, all-dancing magic carpet ride through panto land is promised this Christmas at Ellesmere Port’s Civic Hall.

Coronation Street star Bruce Jones, best known for his role as Les Battersby in the long-running ITV soap, will be starring as PC Pong in the traditional family panto Aladdin.

The animated Mr Bean character will be appearing as the Genie.

Brio Leisure say they are pleased to welcome the record breaking production which will be the first professional pantomime held at the Civic Hall.

Along with Anton Benton Productions Brio say: “We are looking forward to bringing the Christmas spirit to the Ellesmere Port community and promise music, dancing and more laughs than you can shake a holly branch at.”

The show will feature a whole host of panto favourites including the wondrous Widow Twankey, the particularly pompous PC Pong, evil Abanazar and his silly sidekick Suzy the Slave of the Ring.

The cast is completed by Joshua Hall as Aladdin, Edward D’arcy Hatton as Widow Twankey, Howard Scott Walker as Abanazar, Amy-Jane Ollies as Princess Jasmyn and Holly Robson as Suzy the Slave of the Ring.

The production will be accompanied by fantastic live musicians and will feature dancers from a local dance school to be announced shortly.

Tickets are £10 adults, £8 children and concessions, £32 family (two adults and two children) and £6 for school performances plus one teacher per 10 students free.

They are on sale now by phone from 0151 356 6890 and in person at the Civic Hall.

School performances will run from December 16 to December 18 with family shows on December 19 at 7pm and December 20 at 11am and 2.30pm.