HARRY Potter author JK Rowling may be the world's most famous children's author at the moment, but the late, yet legendary, Roald Dahl is still one of the most-loved.

Well known for his fantastic imaginative tales of everyday children who find themselves in magical fantasy situations, his stories do not patronise young readers. Instead, they appeal to their sense of fun with biting humour and hilarious characters.

Dahl's book The Witches is probably one of his scariest stories, and now it has been faithfully adapted for the stage in a show that is a must-see for anyone who has read the book.

A boy and his grandmother visit an English seaside hotel for what they hope will turn out to be a relaxing break. However, not all goes to plan when grandmother realises that the witches of England have also descended on the hotel for their annual conference.

But these witches are not the kind who fly around on broomsticks and wear black pointy hats. Instead, these witches look like ordinary women...until they take off their wigs!

Will the young boy and his elderly relative be able to foil the High Witch's plan to turn every child into a mouse?

A show that will appeal to youngsters as well as parents, this production has a distinct pantomime atmosphere about it that will get the audience booing and hissing at the evil women, some of whom are played by local women who were specially auditioned for the parts.

This show runs at The Mayflower in Southampton from Tuesday until Saturday, April 30.

Tickets from £10. Box office: 023 8071 1811.