MUSICAL fans met a character from the silver screen on Saturday.

Mrs Potts, from Beauty and the Beast, was in Joseph Pease Place, Darlington, to meet children and parents at a family fun day organised ahead of Darlington Operatic Society’s stage performance of the musical at Darlington Civic Theatre.

The show, which is costing tens of thousands of pounds to stage, features Disney-patented effects, including full prosthetics for The Beast, more than 100 wigs and hairpieces and costumes brought in from around the country.

There will also be technical wizardry and illusions, with songs by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.

The opening night of the show will include a Beauty and the Beast fancy dress competition for children, with the winner being taken on stage at the end of the show to be presented with a prize by Belle.

Julian Cound, from the society, said: “Mrs Potts got a lot of attention.

Everyone wanted to have their picture taken with her. The show is going to be a really spectacular piece of theatre. Ticket sales are going really well, with the first and last two nights almost sold out, and the Saturday matinee almost sold out.”

The show will run from Wednesday, October 27, to Saturday, November 6, with a matinee on Saturday, October 30. Tickets are £14 to £18, on 01325-244659.