STARS of Bolton's Christmas panto say they have been waiting for their final pay cheque for their performance in Dick Whittington.

Every Cloud Entertainments put on the production at the Macron, with actors paid weekly.

Now it has emerged that members of the cast were left waiting for their last weekly wage, although all the other weeks' wages have been paid.

Every Cloud Entertainments said that the show had made a loss which had led to a delay in paying the final instalment, but that 90 per cent of cast members had been paid this week β€” with the rest being paid in the next couple of weeks.

One member of the show, which starred Keith Chegwin, who says he is still waiting to be paid hundreds of pounds, said: "We were told there would be a delay but it is nearly a month I have been waiting. The show finished on January 1.

"We have bills and mortgages to pay.

"I am annoyed because it is our biggest money earner of the year, and we work throughout Christmas and away from our families."

He added: "We had audiences of 800 to 1,000, There were a few shows which had an audience of 400, but the ticket sales went well.

"The emails some of us have received have been quite curt."

The production company apologised for the delay in the last payment.

Scott Clarkson, from the company, said: "There has been a delay in the last instalment, on Wednesday 90 per cent of the cast were paid, with the others to be paid in the next few weeks.

"We are keeping people informed and we are sorry this is the situation.

"The production did not make a profit. It was a fantastic production, we had great reviews but the production made a loss. We have other costs, such as marketing, advertising which people do not see.

"The cast have been paid throughout the show, and have been fantastic and we want to work with them again.

"We have kept Equity informed and been in touch with agents and cast to explain the situation."

He added: "We have taken money from investments and other productions to pay the staff."

Mr Clarkson said that the company would take the "hit" of the loss and was still planing on putting on a panto in Bolton this Christmas.

A spokesman for Equity said: "Equity is currently talking to the producers to resolve the payment issues for our members."

A spokesman from the Macron Stadium, said: β€œIt was purely the venue for the pantomime and was not responsible for the payment of wages to the cast. All our contractual obligations with Every Cloud Entertainment were fulfilled. We will not be making an further comment on this matter.”