Their pupils couldn't go to the pantomime this year – so one local primary brought the pantomime into school instead.

Staff at Whitgreave Primary School formed the Pandemic Panto Company to ensure their children didn't miss out on the annual Christmas tradition – staging the story of Little Red Riding Hood.

Headteacher Sarah Redfearn said: "Because of the pandemic, we couldn't take the children out on their annual theatre trip, so we thought we better bring the theatre to school.

"Our staff were rehearsing for a few weeks after school and, in order to avoid mixing of bubbles and to enable social distancing, we performed the show seven times. 

"The children – and the staff – loved every minute of it and in fact the children have asked us to do the same again next year, so it looks like the Pandemic Panto Company will be treading the boards again in 2021!"

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "Our city's schools have responded absolutely fantastically throughout this pandemic, and this is yet another example of how they are going above and beyond to give their children a Christmas to remember."