PANTOS in summer, summer fairs in October it seems like one Amersham school has a bit of bother with its calendar.

But children at St Mary's C of E Combined School didn't seem to mind a bit when they donned their fancy dress for the Christmas panto Aladdin on Wednesday and Thursday.

Teachers decided the children would enjoy it before they leave to start secondary school in September.

And headmaster Roy Durrant said it is tradition to have their pantomime during summer and summer fetes in autumn.

Mr Durrant said: "We have a summer fair for them in October and we always have pantos in the summer. We can be more traditional at Christmas though. There is so much at the end of the year to do end of year reports, looking at secondary schools. It seems a good way to bring it all to an end."

He added: "The kids thought they could update it and put in a few political jokes.

"We decided to do two different casts for each night, which made it twice as hard. But it gives everyone a chance to play the main leads.

"They have been rehearsing on a Sunday for the past month, there wasn't enough time in school.

"We are doing it for the children, not their parents. They are leaving and that is what we wanted for them."