The 2021 Sleeping Beauty performance by the Verwood Pantomime Society will not be going ahead due to coronavirus.

Rehearsals would have been starting in the next couple of months but organisers have decided not to go ahead for the safety of the players, backstage crew and audience members.

In a message online, they wrote: “It is with immense sadness that we have to announce the postponement of our 2021 show, Sleeping Beauty. We could cry. In fact we are.

“It was a horrifically hard decision to make, but we have to consider the health and safety of all the players and back-stage crew and of course, our fabulous audience.

“We’ll be back bigger and better than ever next year, with auditions and rehearsals starting September 2021. Keep safe and we’ll see you all again soon. Love & hugs, All at VPS.”

The show was planned to run from January 23rd to January 30th 2021.