BEAUTY met the Beast when she paid a visit to York City’s training field.

Laura Castle, from the Grand Opera House, which is staging Beauty and The Beast as its Christmas panto, came face to face with striker Jon Parkin, known as The Beast, as he was preparing for City’s game tomorrow against Brackley Town.

Her visit came as the theatre has been placing 24 carat golden roses in various locations around York, with clues posted in The Press and on social media and each person finding a rose winning a family ticket to the panto on Monday December 18.

On Saturday, one City supporter sitting in a lucky seat will also be presented with a golden rose and a family ticket after their seat number is selected at random and called out at half time.

The panto, which runs from December 15 until January 7, features stars including Blue singer Antony Costa, Lynne McGranger of TV soap Home and Away, Strictly dancer Debbie McGee and Ken Morley, formerly of Coronation Street.