It's the season for cross-dressing and children screaming – yes, the panto is back in town.

This year Luton's Library Theatre is serving up everybody's favourite rags to riches story about a poor man who became Lord Mayor of London – Dick Whittington.

And no pantomime would be complete without a couple of TV celebs slipping into tights.

This Christmas, Channel Four's Hollyoaks Let Loose's star Rachael Holoway plays Alice Fitzwarren, the love interest for Dick.

And Gabrielle Bradshaw from Havakazoo will take on the role of the villainous Queen Rat while West End veteran Lewis Griffith is the penniless hero Dick.

And Luton's own mayor has a special interest in this year's show. Councillor Haji Abid is continuing his appeal to help the four million people made homeless by the Kashmir earthquake.

Collection buckets will be at all performances.

Theatre manager Lynda Hamdani said: "When the mayor asked the Library Theatre to support the appeal we were delighted to help.

"Hopefully, audiences will be generous again this year giving their spare change to help the earthquake victims," she said.

Dick Whittington runs from December 14 to January 3. Call the box office on 01582 547474.