THE Wight Strollers team have released a lockdown video to celebrate the theatre group's 40th anniversary ­— with more than 40 members singing individually to form a collage of happy faces.

"It’s our 40th anniversary this year, and we've been fortunate enough to perform our panto and enter the IW Music, Dance and Drama Festival before the lockdown," said Emily Scotcher, on behalf of the group.

"But the rest of our celebrations, including our summer musical, The Wind in the Willows, have had to be postponed.

"We have, however, been keeping busy, as you’ll see from the video, which features members singing the song we’ve sung for every single panto finale since we were founded 40 years ago.

"We’ve also been holding weekly Zoom quizzes for our members, as well as releasing puzzle packs and setting challenges to keep them smiling at a time when we should have been rehearsing twice a week together."

The group have still managed to give away proceeds from their latest panto, Sleeping Beauty, and have made an emergency £1,000 donation to the Isle of Wight Foodbank.

Furthermore, the group will also be purchasing a tenth public access defibrillator for the Island, and a donation totalling £8,000 will be split between its chosen charities, IW MS Society, West Wight Men in Sheds, IW Suicide and Prevention, Wight DASH, and the IW School Pastors.

"So many things are so uncertain for so many people at present, and this makes us more determined then ever before to try to spread a little joy among the Island community," said Emily.

"The lockdown video is our little message of positivity to everyone, and a promise that we will be back as soon as we can."