TWO theatrical twins from Wareham have played a pivotal role in the panto Dick Whittington scooping a prestigious Olivier Award.

Gary and Paul Hardy Brown, who run The Twins FX company, were part of the creative team behind the London Palladium's award-winning pantomime.

The show, nominated in the Entertainment and Family category, beat off stiff competition from David Walliams' Gansta Granny, Five Guys Named Mo, and illusionist Derren Brown.

Featuring a flying London Bus among its many special effects, this is the first time a West End pantomime has ever won such an award.

The Twins FX managing director Gary Hardy Brown said: "It is such a fantastic production and a pleasure to be part of the creative team. We have pioneered flying in recent years with the bespoke system ' Flying without wires'. The audience sees a person or an object move around the stage and then the auditorium with no visible means of support.

"Coming into work is never boring or a chore because we genuinely love what we do."

Based in Sandford, The Twins FX has a core team of six staff - but at their busiest employ up to 30 model-makers.

Company creative director Paul Hardy Brown explained: "We are a one stop shop and we do everything ourselves - designing, creating, building and delivering the wow factor. Our slogan is, we make the impossible possible."

The pair are thrilled to be part of the winning team that helped Qdos Entertainments achieve their Olivier success. 

The Twins FX's portfolio includes soaring airborne dragons, an eight metre gorilla, sea monsters, a hovering helicopter, Santa's flying sleigh - complete with reindeer - and even a life-sized T-Rex.

Speaking after winning the award, Dick Whittington director - and managing director of Qdos Entertainment - Michael Harrison said: "Pantomime hasn't really been represented in the West End.

"It is only when we brought pantomime back two years ago with Cinderella and recently with Dick Whittington that we've been able to reintroduce it to a West End audience and try to do it with the kind of style and class you would do with any musical.

"That is why it feels it is an acknowledgement from everybody that we set out to do something quite special."