Families with children who have life-threatening conditions were treated to a special post-Christmas visit from the cast of Ipswich pantomime Aladdin at the Treehouse hospice.

Ipswich Star: Cast of Ipswich Regent's pantomime Aladdin perform for children and their families at EACH.Cast of Ipswich Regent's pantomime Aladdin perform for children and their families at EACH.

Debbie McGee and X-Factor star Andy Abraham were among cast members who met with youngsters at East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) base in Ipswich yesterday.

Debbie, who is playing the Slave of the Ring in the show at Ipswich Regent, said: “We loved coming along today. To see the children and grown-ups joining in, laughing and clapping along to the songs is what panto is all about.”

Collections for EACH are being held at every performance of Aladdin, which is running until January 3, 2016.

Andy, who treated the audience to a rendition of Me and Mr Jones, added: “We really enjoyed putting on our costumes, coming along to the Treehouse and meeting the children and their families.

“To see where the end of show collections are put to good use really does bring home the meaning of Christmas.”