A fan of comic duo Cannon and Ball has broken a south Wales theatre's record by buying tickets to see them perform in the same panto 38 times.

Nicky Kelly, 37, from the Cyncoed area of Cardiff, has spent �1,000 on tickets to watch her heroes perform in Dick Whittington, at the New Theatre in the city.

You can't put a price on happiness and to watch them is a real lift to the spirit Nicky Kelly

The bank clerk makes a daily trip to see them during their two month run of the show which started on 14 December.

A spokesman for the theatre said it was the first time that anyone had gone to see any one of its shows as many times.

Ms Kelly, who has been a fan of Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball for more than 25 years, has spent thousands of pounds travelling around the country to see their act.

She said: "You can't put a price on happiness and to watch them is a real lift to the spirit.

"For an hour on stage, I am transported away and we all need more of that.

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"It was terrific to find out they were performing in my home city.

"I just could not see myself watching television every night, knowing that they were only a few miles down the road," she said.

Ms Kelly said that the first time she saw the comic pair - who were familiar faces on prime time television in the 1980s - she blacked out from laughing so much.

"Tom and Bob are master craftsmen and they really know how to work an audience," she said.

"They are tremendous and have so much to offer.

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"There is not much of this type of entertainment around.

"It is a real joy to see them enjoying themselves when they are working and the magical moments when the tears are running down Tommy's cheeks," she added.

A spokesman for the New Theatre said: "We are not aware of anyone coming to see any one of our shows as often as she is coming to see Dick Whittington.

"We are used to people coming two or three times to see the panto - but not 38 times," he added.

Dick Whittington will be on at the theatre until 25 January.