THEY say the show must go on - and for Alan Lawrence it has for 77 years.

The 80 year old veteran performer, who lives in Radipole, has been treading the boards since a tiny tot and his dedication has scooped him a prestigious acting title.

Alan, who belongs to the Radipole Players, has been named the Oldest Active Amateur Performer in the south of England in a competition run by charity Counsel and Care for the Elderly.

He will be going to London on May 29 to collect his award from famous 1960's actor Edmund Hockridge before an anxious wait to see if he has scooped the national title.

Alan, who can normally be seen treading the boards at the United Reform Church, off Spa Road, Weymouth, said he was delighted to win after responding to an appeal in the Dorset Echo.

"I was gobsmacked when I was told I'd won because I sent a three page letter about my life and didn't expect to hear anything back," he said.

He began acting at the age of three when his father Arthur, who was a professional, led him onto a stage at Southampton pier.

"I don't think I wanted to be on there but I suppose that was the moment when I caught the acting bug," he said.

Alan says he has been involved in 18 pantomimes and around 30 plays over the years but he has never been tempted to take acting up professionally.

"I've always enjoyed doing it just for fun. I love building up a rapport with the audience and it definitely used to help me in my old job as an engineer in atomic energy at Winfrith, because I was able to make people laugh at conferences," he said.

His wife, Sheila, also takes a keen interest in amateur dramatics and the pair tour, giving charity demonstrations of Scottish country dancing.

Alan says he never normally has problems remembering his lines, although the role of Merlin in King Arthur gave him trouble two years ago.

"It was very difficult because Merlin's part was written completely in rhyme so I could not adlib," he added.

He says he has no plans to hang up his tights and wants to carry on for as long as possible.

"I've got quite a few events coming up in the next few weeks and I want to carry on as long as I cane but I suppose that will depend on my health," he said.

Runner up in the region was 78-year-old Nancy Moore, who is president of the Weymouth Operatic Society.

She has been a member of the society for 56 years and still performs in their twice-yearly productions - including their current show Anything Goes.

Bryan Breed, of Counsel and Care, said Alan was picked from hundreds of entries because he gives the community so much pleasure.

"We found people enjoy a longer and better quality of life if they keep active so we decided to set up these awards in an effort to help older people keep a healthy lifestyle," he said.