OH no it's not! Oh yes it is!

Weymouth is gearing up for pantomime season with its very own Christmas cracker Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Topping the bill in this year's panto as Snow White is television star Madeleine West, who plays nurse Dion Bliss in the BBC's soap Neighbours.

Starring alongside her is heart-throb Jeremy Turner-Welch, who played teacher Tom Bainbridge in ITV's Emmerdale.

Members of the public were given a sneak preview of the show as the cast put on their costumes and gave them a taste of what is to come.

Madeleine was unable to make the launch as she is still in Australia but she will be in Weymouth for the start of rehearsals at the beginning of December.

Jeremy Turner-Welch, who is playing the charming Prince Antonio Cortez, said: "I am really looking forward to the pantomime.

"It is going to be a great show and there is something for everyone in it."

The seven dwarfs will be played by local children, who auditioned for the parts and for the chance to work in a professional production.

Sarah Ayling, who is set to scare the audience as the evil Queen Dumplena, said: "This is a great show.

"It has got a little bit of magic, singing, laughs, goodies and baddies. It is great fun and hopefully everyone will enjoy themselves."

The pantomime, which is a John Spiller production, will also star comedians, Tony Rudd as Joey the Jester, Mark Willmott as Stupid Boris, Eddie Wallace as Silly Horris and singer Kate Richards is the Forest Fairy.

n The pantomime will run from December 14 to January 4 with tickets starting at £8.00. For more details contact the box office on (01305) 783225.

Mp

Talks on obelisk future

THE ownership of a famous landmark could move into the hands of Portland Town Council, it emerged last night.

The historic Portland Bill obelisk, a Grade II-listed building, may eventually be transferred from its current owners, Trinity House, to the island's town council.

Portland mayor Ian Phelps said at last night's meeting on the future of the obelisk that he would ask the council if it wanted to take over responsibility for the landmark.

But for that to happen £47,000 would need to be raised so the obelisk could be moved inland to prevent the possibility of it falling into the sea.

Trinity House called the meeting at the Portland Heights Hotel to discuss the long-term future of the popular tourist attraction because they are unable to fund repairs to the obelisk as it is no longer operational.

Trinity House spokesman Howard Cooper told the meeting that decisions need to be taken soon because the obelisk, the only one of its kind in the country, could disappear in around five years' time.

Earlier this year, local uproar forced Trinity House to abandon plans to demolish the stone structure, which was built in 1844 to warn ships of rocks.

Mr Cooper added that Trinity House would be willing to pay £12,000 towards the relocation and hoped Portland Town Council would take over the ownership if the total cash needed was eventually raised.

"In a worse case scenario, we could apply to have it demolished, but ideally we would like the ownership of the obelisk transferred to the people of Portland," he said.

Rowland Reynolds, agent for the Crown Estate which owns much of Portland Bill, said although they had no use for the obelisk, he was hopeful they would contribute some cash towards the relocation.

"The obelisk is, in its own right, a tourist attraction. I am sure people would throw their weight behind the fundraising bid because the obelisk is a well-known feature of our landscape," he said.

And local residents made passionate pleas for people to get behind the bid to preserve the landmark.

Joan Bliss suggested a lottery bid be applied for and added: "People have come to see the obelisk from all over the world and it would be a huge shame if we were to lose another of Portland's traditions."