Children and young people in care from across Buckinghamshire were treated to a free trip to the pantomime this year thanks to a kind-hearted council chairman.

The group, ranging in age from two years up to 15 years, were nominated to go on the outing, to Wycombe Swan and Aylesbury Waterside theatres, by their social workers, as guests of Bucks County Council chairman Patricia Birchley.

Eleven children, accompanied by their carers, went to watch Jack and the Beanstalk on December 12, while 14 children and their carers watched Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at Aylesbury Waterside on December 14.

Ms Birchley said: “I really wanted to do something for our children and young people in care.

“Christmas is a time for spending with family but for many of these children, for a whole variety of reasons, that is not possible.

“We wanted to take them out to enjoy a fun evening with their carers where they could sit back, switch off and enjoy the festive fun on stage.”