THEATRE-GOERS have the chance to step back to their childhood and meet up with Toad, Mole, Rat and Badger.

The Redbridge Stage Company presents The Wind in the Willows at the Kenneth More Theatre in Oakfield Road, Ilford.

Kenneth Grahame's story has been loved for generations, and Toad is one of the most memorable characters in English literature.

Company members hope this production will be just as appealing to children and adults alike, especially as they are using the Alan Bennett adaption which ran so successfully at the Royal National Theatre during the 1990s.

Bennett famously adapted the story and brought it into the modern day. The wild wooders became gangsters with costumes that made them look like the Mob. The costumes are hired from the National Theatre.

Director Brenda Brackley said: "Alan Bennett's humour is excellent and the play is fast moving. It's jolly good family entertainment."

The story centres round Toad (Roger Howsam) and his crazes and his ability to drag his friends, Mole (Ian Brown), Rat (Jez Watt) and Badger (Martin File) into whatever scrape he is in.

First Toad's craze is for caravans, but he is disaster-prone and soon crashes it. Next it is for motor cars, but this too he manages to wreck. He is sent to prison to think about his behaviour.

While he is in prison, his home, Toad Hall, has been taken over by the wicked weasels, ferrets and stoats. He must escape prison and win back his home.

The play runs from Thursday to Saturday, December 6 to 8. Performances start at 8pm every night, apart from the matinee which is at 3.30pm but that is already sold out. Tickets are available by calling the Kenneth More Theatre box office on 8553 4466.