A popular pantomime has been forced to postpone this year's shows due to the coronavirus crisis.

The team behind the annual festive event at The Swallows Leisure Centre in Sittingbourne has announced its Dick Whittington shows this Christmas will not go ahead.

Trio Entertainment and The Swallows had hoped to proceed with this year's production, shows for which would have taken place between December 16 and 24.

But they said it was with "deep regret and a very heavy heart" that this decision had to be made due to the ongoing restrictions with Covid-19.

A Trio Entertainment spokesman said: "We understand many of our customers will be very disappointed by this decision but, as a small business who has produced the pantomime at The Swallows since 2011, we must protect our loyal audiences and be able to continue creating shows for the years to come.

"If the unthinkable were to happen and an individual were to be diagnosed with Covid-19, the entire show would have to be cancelled. We simply cannot take that risk.”

It added that a "huge amount of thought and consideration" had been put into how the team could have safely produced the annual pantomime but, given the risk to the audiences, cast, crew and production team, the conclusion was reached that this year’s production could not proceed.

'We understand many of our customers will be very disappointed by this decision but we must protect our loyal audiences and be able to continue creating shows for the years to come...'

The team said it was, however, excited to announce that its 2021 production would be Sleeping Beauty.

It will run in December 2021, with the team aiming for shows to take place from December 15 to 24.

Tickets for this year's shows did not go on sale to the general public as they normally would have done in April because of coronavirus.

Regular group bookers, who are able to reserve tickets in January each year, have all been contacted.

Trio Entertainment is now taking reservations for group and school bookings, of ten or more, for next year's Sleeping Beauty. General ticket sales will open in March 2021.

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