A GROUP of visually- impaired children had a date with the stars when they went behind the scenes at the Darlington pantomime.

The children and their parents met the cast of Beauty and the Beast before the matinee show at the Civic Theatre on Saturday.

As well as meeting the Grumbleweeds, former pop idol star Zoe Birkett, who plays Belle, Big Brother winner Anthony Hutton and Noel Brodie, the group were also given a tour of the stage.

The children are members of the Durham Support Group for Families with Visually- Impaired Children.