IT wasn't the tried and tested stories of Robin Hood or Cinderella for this year's Newbrough and Fourstones pantomime.

The theme for this year’s panto, 20,000 Leagues Under the South Tyne, written and produced by Robin Perrie, was a plan to Make Tynedale Great Again.

The villain of the piece, Donald Trump's cousin Ronald, superbly played by Paul Myers, had plans to build a wall between Haydon Bridge and Haltwhistle thus flooding the Tyne valley and making hundreds of people homeless and himself a load of cash.

Trump's only unlikely ally for the wall – which he informed us that Haltwhistle was going to pay for - was a Scotsman played by Mark Whaley.

The band of rebels recruited to save the valley, housed in a yellow submarine, featured a return of the three 'rap dudes' Nick Whittaker, Rob Tindall, and Jeremy Thompson, who were as funny as ever trying and failing to be fit, young and energetic.

Their wives, other regulars Milly, Molly and Randy, were well cast and played by Mandy Perrie, Abbie Southworth and Emma Hunt, as they headed for Benidorm but somehow ended up with a drunken Pilot Pete (Kevin Hilton) and Trolley Dolly (Gill Tate) on a Geordie Airlines flight to Gateshead.

They eventually ended up in Whitley Bay instead of the Costa Blanca.

It wouldn't be a panto without the dames, played again by Tim Jukes and Andrew Webb.

As ever they were extremely funny, creating and enjoying the jokes themselves as they added their own humour to an already colourful script.

The beauty contest scene was a gem when they paraded in their swimsuits as they were interviewed by the elegant, shimmering presenter Polly (Yvonne Heminsley).

In the many sub plots, the jolly joiners Jimmy and Jenny, employed to build the wall, had some entertaining lines and were aptly played by John Martin and Michelle Bridges.

Similarly, the powerful voice of Ed Dixon was excellent as the mad professor.

The Chef (Lindy Dixon) and her assistant Starvin' Marvin (Christine Moorcroft) added their own touch of humour and the South Tyne Monster (Robin Bridges) made regular appearances.

Newbrough WI ladies also made a colourful introduction to the panto as the group's president Michelle Hillier kept the 'convincing' ladies, played by Dave Spearman and Owen McArdle, in check.

As in all pantos there was a 'happy ever after' ending as the valley was saved again by the kids (Jake Perrie, Eleanor Hodkinson, Katy Scott and Martha Harrison).

They distracted him by teaching him the floss dance and were then able to steal the documents for his plan which revealed the location of the emergency plug.

Jack (Tiffany Hodkinson) wanted to prove he was a hero in order to win the hand of Poppy (Emma Hunt), so he performed the feat of diving deep to pull the plug, thereby draining all the water and saving the Tyne valley (at least for another two years).

In doing so he won Poppy’s admiration, and she agreed to marry him.

The panto concluded with a raucous finale performance on Saturday night when Newbrough town hall was packed to the rafters as the appreciative audience participated and enjoyed the singing and dancing as well as the entertaining plot.

The young dancers and many behind the scenes personnel added their own special dimension to a very enjoyable production.

Around 50 people help create the panto which plays to a total audience of nearly 400 over three days in what has become a hugely valued part of village life in Newbrough and Fourstones.