Panto genie too big for trap door

Twenty-three stone Mr Myatt is Gloucester's town crier

A pantomime genie has been forced to quit a Christmas production of Aladdin because of his weight.

Twenty-three stone town crier Alan Myatt was planning to make a grand entrance through the stage trap door of the New Olympus Theatre in Gloucester.

But Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society has had to find a less portly star because Mr Myatt is too heavy.

"I'm short and fat and you need to be pretty agile when you're on a trap door," said Mr Myatt.

"It's a young man's job really. The last time I played it was six or seven years ago, but I was so looking forward to playing it."