MUFFIN the dog has been chosen to be the star of a pantomime production after breezing through an X-Factor style audition.

He beat off the competition to scoop the role of Toto in Wellington Pantomime Group's production of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Plenty of proud pooch owners put forward their pet to play the part alongside Abi Lockyer, who is Dorothy in the popular panto.

The hopefuls were whittled down to five, who went along to meet Abi, who is rehearsing with fellow cast members ahead of taking to the stage at the Wellesley Theatre, Wellington, from January 27 to 31.

Group chairman Colin Marshall said: "It was a really difficult decision to make as they were all extremely cute, which rather clouds your judgement.

"But in the end we had to see who responded well to Abi and who looked like they wouldn’t be too overawed by a large audience."

Colin said Muffin "ticked all the boxes" and is bound to go down well with the audiences.

But what about the old adage that actors should never work with animals?

Colin added: "We really don’t mind that at all - if the audience goes away thinking about how good Muffin was, we will be more than happy."

*Get your panto tickets via the box office on 0844-9979000 or via www.ticketsource.co.uk/wellingtonartscentre