Hethersett's annual pantomime provides plenty of fun and enjoyment for the village and surrounding areas, but there is also a more serious side to the group.

Hethersett's annual pantomime provides plenty of fun and enjoyment for the village and surrounding areas, but there is also a more serious side to the group.

Each year they donate money to charity and over the past 39 performances have raised over £53,000.

During this year's performances of Mother Goose a collection was taken for the Norfolk Accident Rescue Service and raised £2,200. A cheque was presented to David Thompson from NARS at the end of this year's final performance.

The money will go towards helping the re-launch of the charity which is aiming to have a new website and to provide its members with new equipment including helmets, overalls, gloves and boots along with trauma bags that cost £1,000 each, defibrillators and special monitoring equipment to check heart functions, blood pressure, breathing and other functions.

NARS is a group of volunteer doctors and paramedics who work alongside the Ambulance Service to provide extra specialist skills at accidents throughout Norfolk. The organisation is funded entirely by donations and its aim is to save lives and prevent further injury happening prior to admission to the Accident and Emergency departments of hospitals.

At the present time NARS has 20 doctors and paramedics working in Norfolk including Hethersett GP Dr Tony Press who is also musical director for the Hethersett Pantomime Group.