A THEATRE lover's dying wish will be granted when a mascot he created for his business is used on stage.

The 4ft tall Mrs Rabbit was made by Kevin Edmondson, 49, one of the founders of Bacup Pride, who died in April after losing his battle with cancer.

Mrs Rabbit was the mascot of Mr Edmondson’s haberdashery in Yorkshire Street, Mrs Rabbit’s Emporium, but was left at Patchworks, his shop in Rochdale Road, after he passed away.

The character has now found a new home at Bacup’s Royal Court Theatre in a production of Alice in Wonderland.

The costume will be used by a youth group at the playhouse to recreate the Lewis Carroll story for the stage on June 21 and 22.

Mr Edmondson’s civil partner of 12 years, Neil Burke, said: “Kevin would like for Mrs Rabbit to be in the Royal Court as he had a life-long love of the theatre, so it is very appropriate.”

Simon Parker, managing director of the theatre, said: “Mrs Rabbit is going to stay on display in the top foyer but when we stage Alice in Wonderland, Mrs Rabbit will be a welcome addition to the cast on stage.

“We have a white rabbit, a Mad Hatter, and now we will also have Mrs Rabbit.”

Mrs Rabbit was kept in the foyer of community charity REAL Rossendale in St James Square, while a permanent home was agreed for her after Mr Edmondson passed away.

REAL will be providing an inscribed plaque to be placed next to Mrs Rabbit at the Royal Court.

Pat Smith, a community development worker at the organisation, said: “Mrs Rabbit proved very popular with our many visitors, but I am delighted that she now has a permanent home.

“When I was taking Mrs Rabbit up to the theatre, I had to park where I shouldn’t.

“I would like to say a big thank you to the traffic warden because he didn’t give me a ticket and he also helped me to carry the 4ft rabbit into the car.”

Mr Edmondson, of Brandwood Road, Stacksteads, helped set up Bacup Pride and acted as its chairman after a summer of anti-social behaviour which blighted the town.

Tickets for Alice in Wonderland are £8 for adults and £7 for concessions. To book, call the box office on 01706 874080.