WRITHING around in agony with part of a helicopter rotor blade stuck in her thigh was perfect practice for Pollyann Tanner's appearance in this year's Wyvern Theatre pantomime.

The Swindon-based director and choreographer and her family are among nearly 200 Swindon actors to feature in the BBC drama Casualty, which returns for its 17th series tonight.

And the new series starts with a bang when the tranquil setting of the Holby County Fair becomes a scene of chaos and carnage, which took six months and 800 extras to film.

The drama unfolds when a display parachutist collides with a bungee jumper and an air ambulance is called in.

But disaster strikes when the helicopter crashes into the ground, showering hundreds of revellers with debris.

Pollyann, 40, who is appearing as Dick Whittington at the Wyvern alongside former Dr Who favourite Colin Baker during December and January, was joined on the Casualty set by her daughter Melissa, 14, and husband David Wicks, 40.

And, keeping it in the family, her 80-year-old dad John Tanner is one of a number of seriously injured people to be tended by off duty consultant Harry Harper, played by Simon MacCorkindale.

Pollyann said: "I think it was the biggest number of extras Casualty has ever used."

The filming took place during Easter at Grittleton Manor, and around 180 extras from Swindon were involved.

She said: ""It was great fun for the whole family really. I haven't done a lot of performing because I've tended to be involved in directing and choreographing, but I loved it and so did Melissa and David.

"Fortunately I was picked out of the crowd to do a juicy scene. Part of a helicopter rotor blade is driven into my leg and I'm on the floor screaming my head off in pain.

"It was all good fun and a bit of practice for the pantomime, which is fast approaching.

"But hopefully during Dick Whittington I will be slapping my thigh rather than screaming my head off in agony because something is embedded in there.

"I can't wait to get on stage at the Wyvern I haven't had such a meaty role for ages."

The extras in Saturday's episode were supplied by Swindon company A Little Extra, run by Tracy Fedai and Julia Dickinson.

The company supplies extras to major television and film productions.

Tracy said: "I think that was the largest number of extras Casualty has ever used. Filming took place over two weeks and they needed loads of people so 180 extras on our books were used."

The first episode in the new series of Casualty is on BBC1 tonight, at 8.15pm.