A SOUTH Cumbrian theatrical show had a problem 25 years ago which not even a great wizard could solve - its Cowardly Lion was just too big.

This is how the problem was fixed, from the pages of The Mail on Tuesday, April 27, in 1993.

It noted: "Ulverston Amateurs posed a problem for the theatrical costumiers when they cast their spring show Wizard of Oz.

"Playing the Cowardly Lion who is looking for some courage if 6ft two-and-a-half inch Russell Palmer - the biggest lion Oldham costumiers Charles Alty have ever had to dress."

Mr Alty told The Mail: "We were told we would need to makea bigger than usual costume for the lion.

"We went out to buy the material but when the measurements arrived we realised we only had half as much as we needed.

"The only things that would fit him were the head and the tail.

"It took us a day to make the new costume."

The Oldham firm had been making theatrical costumes since 1964 and Mr Alty had spent all his working life in the wardrobe departments of theatres.

He said: "I've dressed some of the big people in my time, including the opera singers Geoffrey Laughton and Rita Hunter.

"Ulverston's is the biggest lion I have ever dressed."

The finished lion outside arrived on Friday, ready for the opening night on Tuesday, April 27.

Rebecca Burch played Dorothy, in the role made famous by Judy Garland in the film version of Wizard of Oz

Other star parts in the show were taken by Robert Ellis, as Scarecrow; Allan Lewis, as Tin Man and Scamp, as Dorothy's dog Toto.