A NORTH Yorkshire bakeware supplier has had many wide-ranging commissions in its century-long history but has never before supplied tins to build a space rocket - until now.

Pickering-based Invicta Bakeware is helping to create a rocket to transport a cat to the moon as part of an unusual seasonal supply.

Invicta's cake and bread tins are being put to use by The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, North Yorkshire, as part of its pantomime Puss in Boots, in which the feline hero lives in a windmill where his human owners bake cakes for a living.

As such it was only logical that the rocket he uses to get to the moon should be made out of cake and bread tins.

In order to achieve this vision, the Theatre put out an appeal for donations of tins and when the team at Invicta heard about the request, it stepped in with a large delivery to the stage door.

John Waddington, managing director at Invicta, said: "We were delighted to come to the aid of the Theatre.

"We have made cake tins for all occasions, including official royal events, but this is definitely a first.

"It is, however, quite fitting that one of the UK’s oldest bakeware manufacturers should team up with the UK’s oldest working theatre, and, after all, the show must go on."

Warnock Kerr, chief executive of the Georgian Theatre Royal, added: "We are most grateful to Invicta Bakeware for such a generous donation as budgets are quite tight for our sets and special effects.

"People will be pleased to know that, in true pantomime fashion, everything works out well in the end and the rocket, built to the tune of Greased Lightning, manages to get back to earth, just in time for the cunning cat to defeat the evil baddie."

Invicta Bakeware was established more than a century ago in 1912 and for most of its history was under the care of the Jones family after Peter Jones bought the business in 1925.

Until recently the third generation of that family was still represented on the board of directors.

Earlier this year, the company received an Investors in People award recognising the quality of its team of 30 staff, which works to create and supply a range of stainless steel bakery racks, oven racks, baking sheets and trays, cup trays and a range of bread pans and cake tins.

Earlier this year, the company launched a new trading division, Food Industry Supplies, to offer a complementary range of plastic products alongside its metalware collection, which involved the introduction of new tooling equipment and strengthening strategic production areas within the factory by bringing in additional skilled members of staff.