A PANTO which was banned by the village hall committee in Merton because of concerns over its title is to be performed in Langtree.

?Snow White and the Seven Asylum Seekers? was scrapped after the Merton Players refused to change the title of the pantomime which was scheduled for the end of January in the village hall.

But now, following calls of support from the public and offers from venues willing to show the panto, writer and producer Bob Harrod has decided to accept an invitation from Langtree Village Hall.

Mr Harrod, who has vowed never to be involved in panto in Merton again, said Langtree had got in touch after all the media coverage of the story.

?They are perfectly happy to put on the panto and why not?,? he said. ?To consider it racist is

ridiculous.?

The Clinton Hall Committee took advice from the Commission for Racial Equality and other groups after one of the members suggested the title might be illegal.

The advice which came back was to think about the ?legal and moral implications? of allowing the panto to go ahead.

The Merton Players were given the option of changing the title but said it they did so, the content of the pantomime would not make any sense.

Mr Harrod described the show as ?a bit of light-hearted fun and taking the mickey out of people? which was what village pantomime was all about.

?If anything it is having a go at the Government and its handling of the asylum seekers situation,? he said.

Merton?s version of Snow White follows the traditional story for a large part of the pantomime but in a twist seven asylum seekers come to the rescue of Snow White, who stays in their cottage in the woods on the condition that she does not shop them to the authorities.

The seven asylum seekers featured are called Chemical Ali, Comical Ali, Back Ali, Dark Ali, Bowling Ali, Ali G and Ali-Kiss-Angel.

Mr Harrod said the cast would be made up of villagers from Merton and Langtree and the panto would make lots of money for charitable causes.

?Every panto for the past five years has made the best part of £1,000 for good causes in Merton but unfortunately they will lose out this year and Langtree will benefit,? he said.

The panto will be performed in Langtree Village Hall on January 23 and 24.