IT'S panto time at the Palace Theatre again as the cast of Dick Whittington takes up residency until January 7 to provide festive fun for all the family.

And pantomime-goers could win a trip to London, following in the footsteps of the principal character who travels from his sleepy hometown to the capital where he believes the streets are paved with gold.

Winners announced during each of the 34 performances will go on to a final draw where they will have a chance to scoop the main prize which includes travel, accommodation, tickets to see a show of their choice and a trip on the London Eye.

The trip has been donated by the Kingfisher Centre management and the show is presented by Extravaganza Productions in association with Redditch Council and the Alcester Street theatre, featuring Jeremy Turner-Welch who starred as Tom Bainbridge in Emmerdale in the title role.

Former Eastenders star Brian Croucher, who played Ted Hills, stars as both Alderman Fitzwarren and the sultan.

The lavish production features more than 120 costumes and 12 different stage settings including old London town, the Hall of Fame, a storm, shipwreck and underwater scene.

The story follows Dick to London, where he befriends a stray cat named Tommy and lands a job with Alderman Fitzwarren at his general store.

Dick soon falls for Alice, the Alderman's daughter, but the captain of the Saucy Sue also fancies his chances with her and plots Dick's downfall with King Rat, causing Dick to lose his job.

On his way home from London, Dick dreams the bright lights are calling him back to become Lord Mayor.

But on their return, the Saucy Sue crew kidnaps him and Tommy.

King Rat summons up a storm before the heroes are cast ashore on the Moroccan coast and taken to the sultan's palace to meet their doom.

But Dick manages to save the sultan from a plague of rats and returns to London with a large fortune.

Also starring are Canadian-born Andrea Dickinson as Alice Fitzwarren, Stephen Dominic (Stevie Bee) as Idle Jack, John Atterbury as King Rat and Jeff Bennett as Dame Sarah Suet.

Daniel Hogarth plays the captain and Virinia Harrison the Fairy of the Bells.

Tickets for Dick Whittington, which previewed yesterday, range from £7 to £8.50, or £24.50 for a family of four from the box office on 65203.

Performances start at either 6.30pm or 7pm, with matinees at 2.30pm and there is also a special party rate of £6.50 for groups of 15 to 149.