PANTOMIME favourite Martin Barrass was at York’s De Grey rooms this weekend, opening a fundraising Christmas Fair.

The long-serving “Dame’s son” opened the fair in the neo-classical De Grey Rooms ballroom at 11am on Saturday.

The fundraising event had been organised by the Friends of York Theatre Royal.

Martin, who has been appearing in the Theatre Royal’s pantomime for more than 30 years, is preparing to return in this year’s Jack and The Beanstalk, after missing last year’s show because he was seriously injured in a road accident.

He will join Dame Berwick Kaler and York panto favourites David Leonard, Suzy Cooper and AJ Powell in the production from Thursday, December 14 to Saturday, February 3.