AN AMATEUR drama group will be marking 40 years this weekend.

CHAPS - Conwy Civic Hall Amateur Players Society - will be hosting a dinner at Maesdu Golf Club on October 19.

The society grew from an idea presented to the Deganwy Mother's Union Evening Group, in the summer of 1979, and was inspired and led by Millie Willdig. The first pantomime called The Magic Post Office was performed at the Church House in Deganwy in December that year.

As the group met in the Church House, it was suggested they could be called The Church House Amateur Players. This became CHAPS for short.

Over the years, CHAPS have performed traditional pantomimes and an array of classic plays in the summer.

These have been interspersed with the occasional variety show.

A spokesperson for the group said: "A move to the Civic Hall in Conwy in 1994 gave us a bigger venue and our society and our reputation grew and progressed."

The Civic Hall closed in March 2014 and yet the determined group have continued their pantomimes, plays and musical variety nights at other venues, most recently at the Memorial Hall in Llandudno Junction.

Rehearsals are currently underway for Chaps's 40th anniversary pantomime.