Panto-loving grandmother Norma Somerville likes nothing more than treading the boards with as many of her relations as possible.

This year she is performing in Aladdin with four of her grandchildren.

And the youngsters, who are all under the age of 11, will be learning from a master.

Norma, who plays The Empress of China in this year's production by the Burgess Hill Theatre Club, has starred in 35 annual pantomimes.

And this will be the third time she has performed in Aladdin.

She has only missed one Burgess Hill Theatre Club panto - in 1967 when she was pregnant with her daughter Jacqueline. That production was also Aladdin.

Since then she has become one of the main fixtures of the annual amateur production in the town.

Norma, of Badger's Walk, Burgess Hill, said: "We're all one big family at the theatre club.

"I have encouraged all my children and grandchildren to take part in the pantomimes and they have had great fun.

"I just adore doing panto. When you walk onto a stage and make people laugh it's so lovely."

Four of Norma's grand-daughters are in the junior chorus in this year's Aladdin.

Youngsters Stephanie, ten, Lucy, nine, and Amy and Jasmin, both eight, are dressing up to star alongside their granny in the panto, to be staged at Martlets Hall.

The panto fever must be in the blood, as all four of Norma's children have also taken part in productions in previous years.

Her sons Kenny, 45, Graham, 43, and Bruce, 41 will be in the audience this year to cheer their mother and children on. Daughter Jacqueline, 37, is a freelance director in London and is also expected to attend the opening night this Friday.

Norma said: "It's brilliant for kids. It teaches them discipline and gives them self-confidence."

Norma, who refused to reveal any details of her age other than that she was "a child bride", said her own favourite panto was Robinson Crusoe.

She played the dame Mrs Crusoe in last year's production. She has no qualms about dressing up to play different larger than life characters, including ones from the animal kingdom.

Norma has performed on stage as Bertha the St Bernard in The Pied Piper and the goose in Mother Goose.

She said: "Panto isn't as easy as people think, it is comedy and tragedy in one performance.

"It's a lot of work to put on the productions but people get such a lot of pleasure out of it.

"I'm so pleased my family get involved and I hope to go on and on for years to come."

For more information on the Aladdin panto call 01444 242888.