The timeless appeal of Laurel and Hardy has worked its magic again.

A short video of them dancing on the grey streets of Port Erin on the village’s ’Visit Port Erin’ Facebook page has attracted 155,000 views and scores of comments from people around the world from Utah in the US to Japan. On Twitter it has been seen by 35,000. The comic duo, played by Dave Shaw (Stan Laurel) and Wayne Kelsall (Oliver Hardy) drove round the village in a 1928 Morris Cowley car as part of a pre-Christmas celebration organised by the village’s traders.

Steve George loaned the car from his collection of classic vehicles and said it was very well received by the public. ’They drove round the village and stopped at the station and did the dance. It was brillinant. People just loved it.’

The Facebook film helps to advertise both Port Erin and local talent.

Dave, a barber by trade from Port St Mary and Wayne, a civil servant from Port Erin, have been impersonating Laurel and Hardy since they first performed a show written by Tom McGrath and directed by another local thespian Carl Parker at Port St Mary Town Hall in 2017.

Laurel and Hardy follows the early lives, their steady rise to international stardom, the decline of their movie careers and their phoenix-like revival on the stages of Europe.

The response to the show was so good they felt confident enough to take it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018 where, despite tough competition, they attracted some great reviews.

Dave and Wayne want to return there this year, funds permitting.

They are performing at various local gatherings and any donations from that go to the Edinburgh trip.

Wayne, a member of Rushen Players, said he always wanted to play Hardy ’He is brilliant to play.’ he said. ’I find myself doing stuff he would do, I’m doing it now the way I’m putting my fingers on the table and how he fiddles with his tie.’

To contact Wayne, phone 269855.