A mother is calling for a Christmas pantomime to be cancelled because of its 'lewd' content, with constant references to the name 'Dick'.

Natalie Wood paid for her family to go to the Dick Whittington production at Manchester Opera House.

But she was horrified with the 'disgusting content' and 'inappropriate behaviour' from the characters, which she says go beyond the pail of normal panto sauciness.

The show features Doctor Who star John Barrowman in the lead role of Dick Whittington, as well as 1980s TV double act The Krankies.

Having visited a pantomime every year with her two children, Natalie, from Oldham, says she is well used to the 'tongue-in-cheek' humour they often involve.

But she says this production 'crosses boundaries' of what is acceptable in front of a family audience.

She claimed there was no need for Barrowman to make reference to sex and there were constant references to 'Dick' in the lewd sense, including 'Alice loves Dick'.

She also said it was inappropriate for Barrowman to be fondling the breasts of Jimmy Krankie - played by the wife of the comedy duo Janette Tough.

Ms Wood also said it was strange when Jimmy put his hand down his shorts, stuck his finger through the front and waved it around.

'I have never been a pantomime where I felt so uncomfortable,' said Natalie. 'The whole show was very sexualised.

'Barrowman sat Jimmy Krankie on his knee and started fondling her breasts. He then takes his hands off and she puts them back on again as if to say "I was enjoying that".

'We thought that was wrong being a female but the fact it was supposed to be a schoolboy, it was just a step too far.'

Natalie, a swimming instructor, bought the tickets as a treat for her fiance Robert Titherington, son Ellis, 11, and stepdaughter Amy, 12.

And as a special treat for Christmas, she also bought them as presents for her sister and sister-in-law and their children, ranging from the age of three to seven.

She has since contacted the company behind the panto to complain and ask for the show to be stopped.

In her email to them, she said: 'Our family is disgusted with this production.

'It has ruined our annual Christmas panto outing and left us feeling uncomfortable and concerned about what the children were exposed to.

'We are far from prudes, but there has to be boundaries where children are concerned.'

She added: 'My children were repeating Alice loves Dick and sticking their fingers out of their trousers for a pretend penis throughout the evening.'

'This is not acceptable and my children required far too much explaining about adult humour for a family show.

'Eleven of us are furious that the production was given the go ahead. Who is responsible for adult content in a child's performance? The show needs stopping.'

However those responsible for the annual festive show say they don't agree that some of the sometimes saucy dialogue crosses the line and insist that the show remains a family-friendly production.