The cast of a sold-out pantomime have announced they are postponing all remaining performances due to Covid-19.

The annual Sgt's Mess Marines' Panto, this year titled 'It Is Quite Hot Mother', was due to run for 10 shows at the Astor Theatre in Deal.

The first show went ahead on Wednesday (January 6), but last night's was pulled.

Today, the cast have revealed the remaining eight shows will not go ahead after members contracted Covid-19.

Paul Richardson, who was playing Captain Case, said: "We're having to postpone the last shows due to illness among the cast. We're very disappointed."

Mr Richardson said the team will now look at rescheduling the shows, with August a possibility, or even January 2023.

Ticket holders are advised to contact the Astor Theatre in due course, but it is hoped the tickets will transfer to the new dates when they are arranged.

This year's show paid homage to the sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum.

All tickets for the run had sold out.

The pantomime is organised, written and performed by former Royal Marines of Deal.

The original aim of the productions was to provide entertainment for the families of the Royal Marines at Christmas.

Later the aim was amended to enable the panto to provide monies for charities, a practice which continues today.

Between 1949 and 1995 the pantomime was presented and performed at the Globe Theatre in the RM Barracks at Deal. However, after the closure of the barracks in 1996, the productions ceased.

In 2013 ex-members of the Royal Marines decided to get together and revive the panto and to present them at the Astor Theatre, in Stanhope Road.

Since 2013 the pantos have raised just over £192,000.

A statement from the Astor Theatre today reads: "Once again, we regret to have to inform you that tonight's performance of It Is Quite Hot, Mother has had to be cancelled.

"Ticket holders have been contacted."