The popularity of the next Sergeants’ Mess pantomime was embodied in this picture taken on the first day of ticket sales.

It was submitted by Peter Jull of Zoom Photos and shows the queue trailing from the Astor Theatre’s box office to the car park on Stanhope Road.

Brian Short, writer and producer of Pirates of the Curried Bean, said: “We have had a great response and people were queuing well before the theatre opened on Wednesday, October 1, leaving just six single odd night tickets left at the end of the first day.”

Last year’s panto, Skinderella sold out in just three hours, and despite adding four extra performances to the run in January, this year’s shows almost sold out in one day too.

Last year’s performances raised a staggering £28,000 for local charities and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust. Tickets are now sold out. For the waiting list, visit the Astor Theatre, Stanhope Road, Deal or call 01304 370220.

This will be the third successive year of the Sergeants’ Mess panto – written and performed by former Royal Marines – being held in Deal again. It was an annual event before the Royal Marines left Deal in 1996.

The Mercury will be producing the panto’s programme.