Christmas season got underway in style in Peel, with hundreds of people turning out to watch the Peel Pantoloon’s pantomime, The Grinch.

Those lucky enough to get tickets for one of the six sold-out shows witnessed a riotous and farcical version of the classic family Christmas tale, featuring the most miserable, mean, moody and green of festive characters.

The well-known, all-round entertainer Chris Burns played the bad-tempered Grinch with a gleeful, cackling energy, generating boos and cries from the audience with each nasty deed, as he attempted to wreck Christmas for the colourful inhabitants of Whoville.

Aided and abetted by Pinchit, played by Kayleigh Smart, the Grinch pretended to be Santa Claus and swapped the Whovian’s presents for gift-wrapped house bricks, which led the motley group of Whoville heros, Nora Good, played by Mark Britton, wearing the over-sized bloomers as the panto dame, Annie Good, played by Esme Bennion, Colin the Cheermeister, played by Amy Brown and Laurence Watterson as the Mayor, to accompany Santa to help restore the festive spirit.

Dave Harding was Santa and Katie Parton appeared in her first pantomime role as his favourite helper, Widgit.

Along the way they met bands of dancing imps, giggling Christmas elves, a magical, ice-cold Snow Queen, played by Emma Mitchell, and were guided by the Spirit of Christmas, played by Pantoloon regular Mel Read.

The jokes came thick and fast, the cast broke into one well-executed dance routine after another at the drop of a Santa hat, and the traditional shouts of ’he’s behind you’ and ’oh yes it is!’ joyously echoed through the Peel Centenary Centre.

The show was directed by Victoria Reynolds, who created a lively, fun and energetic show that thrilled the crowds, young and old alike.