A HAMPSHIRE amateur dramatics group has changed the name of its pantomime dame from Anna Rexia to avoid causing offence.

Following coverage in yesterday's edition of the Daily Echo, the Hamble Players have redubbed their lead comic character Val Derma - after a skin cream - instead.

The name Anna Rexia was a play on anorexia nervosa, a serious mental illness which has a mortality rate of around 20 per cent.

Eating Disorders Association chief executive Nicola Bryant said care should be taken when using the term, adding: "We would not like to see anybody trivialising it."

Terence Vines, who lives in Park Gate and whose daughter Gillian died of the disease, said he and his wife would certainly not attend a pantomime featuring a character of that name.

Yesterday Hamble players spokeswoman Kay Baker said the play had been written eight or nine years ago and the production's director had already decided to change the name to "Val Derma".

"I'm just mortified that we could have caused anyone distress. We're in the business of giving pleasure to people.

"We've done this pantomime twice before - the last time six years ago."

The production of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood is set to be performed in the first week of December at Hamble-le-Rice Memorial Hall.