HOME and Away star Ray Meagher is stepping out of his pantomime role to support needy people in the region this Christmas.

Ray, who plays Alf in the Australian soap, is starring as Baron Hardup in a production of Cinderella at Darlington Civic Theatre. Along with Kelly Morris, who plays Cinderella, he took time out to visit the Jennings Ford branch in Middlesbrough.

While there he met Major Malcolm Holt, of the Salvation Army, which is collecting gifts for children at the dealership