THE costume department of the Chesham Methodist Players had a job on their hands with the next pantomime- as they had to fashion outfits for seven mermaids.

They also had to come up with outfits for a crab, a fish, a shark, two eels and three witches with octopus legs.

Then as the sewing began disaster struck as Paula Filby, who came up with the idea of writing The Little Mermaid for the pantomime, broke her toe, making her unable to operate a sewing machine. Three days later, another of the sewers, her mother, Di Hitchcock, broke her hand.

But the team have all been working hard and things are coming together for the show during half term.

The Little Mermaid is based on the Hans Christian Anderson story about a mermaid princess who falls in love with the prince she saves from a shipwreck.

She trades her voice to the sea-witch in exchange for legs; so she can meet her beloved.

Paula said: "We’re not giving anything away but we can promise that the pantomime doesn’t end with the mermaid dying, as she does in the original story. Being a pantomime, there are lots of other characters from silly sailors to mischievous mermaids; along with songs, dances and plenty of laughs."

The Little Mermaid is being performed at the Methodist Hall, Bellingdon Road, Chesham February 20 and 21 at 7.30pm and 22 at 2.30pm & 6.30pm. Tickets are £7 adults, £4 children (Sat 6:30pm - half-price) from 01494 784161.