Soap star impressed by town

Neighbours star Natalie Blair has said her first impression of Shrewsbury was of a "beautiful" town after flying in for this year's Christmas pantomime.

Natalie, who plays Carmella Cammeniti, joined cast members and invited guests for Christmas dinner at the Lion Hotel in Wyle Cop last night.

After arriving in the county on Tuesday, the star has already done two full days of rehearsals for Snow White which kicks off at the Music Hall next Thursday.

She said: "I am loving it here, I am finally absorbing all my surroundings and it is so beautiful. I could see myself retiring here someday."

Natalie only finished filming Neighbours on Friday and had a couple of days to go over her panto script before flying out of Australia on Monday.

And Shrewsbury has certainly had an impression on the 23-year-old.

"I was walking up to McDonald's and I felt like I had stepped into a film set," the actress said.

"This whole town feels old and ancient, in a good way, the way the shops and houses are so close together and so flat on the outside.

"Just being here for two days has made me realise I want to leave Neighbours and get out and try new things, this is my wake up call."