THERE was magic in the air as the stars of this year's King's Theatre panto posed alongside Aladdin's lamp.

The cast of last year's critically acclaimed Cinderella have been re-united for this year's festive show and tickets have now gone on sale.

The 'rags to riches' tale features a young hero who has to learn an important lesson, with a healthy dose of magic, a beautiful heroine and an evil villain, or two.

Comedienne Karen Dunbar will take the role of Slave of the Ring, while stand-up star Des Clarke returns as lovable Wishee Washee.

Jenny Douglas, a finalist on BBC's Over the Rainbow talent search show, will take the role of Princess Jasmine.

Widow Twankey, Aladdin's mum, will be played by I Dreamed a Dream actor Gordon Cooper, who was last seen as an Ugly Sister alongside panto stalwart Gavin Mitchell, who this year will be play the evil Abanazar.

Completing the cast is comedy actor Steven McNicoll as a Palace Guard, with West End Wicked star Kieran Brown as Aladdin and John Ramage, of Rab C Nesbitt fame, as The Emperor.

Theatre bosses are hoping to build on the success of last year's production of Cinderella, which was hailed a classic.

The pantomime will run from December 6 to January 12. Tickets priced £10.90-£32.40 are available from www.atgtickets.com/shows/aladdin/kings-theatre/