BOLTON Little Theatre chairman Elizabeth Tatman has announced she will be standing down.

She will retire from the position which she has held for five years so that "new blood" can to take her place.

Mrs Tatman, who received an MBE for her for her decades of hard work with Bolton’s young people in 2013, was first elected as chairman at the Hanover Street theatre in November, 2010.

Both her and her husband Michael, aged 81, have been heavily involved with the theatre — of which Sir Ian McKellen is patron — since 1968.

Mr Tatman has performed in a number of productions while Mrs Tatman has provided support in the wardrobe department and helped document the theatre's archives.

Mrs Tatman, aged 82, said: "I have been thinking for a while that it is time for me to give the opportunity for new blood to take my place. If there is someone already in a position it is hard for new people to put themselves forward.

"I will still work in the wardrobe department, and I'll also continue archiving the theatre's productions. By the end of this season we will have reached 600 shows."

As well as her time working at the theatre, which is a member of Bolton Amateur Theatre Society (BATS), Mrs Tatman — who originally trained as a teacher — is a founder member and former president of the Rotary Club of Bolton Daybreak, an organisation which she is still heavily involved with.

She has also worked with services to families and children throughout her career and in 1996 she helped set up a toy library in Lasi, Romania and has developed and run courses for people who work with children in hospitals, institutions and schools.

Mrs Tatman said: "I love Romania. It's like my second home. I have been there at least once every year and have probably taught more than 1,000 people."

Theatre members can vote for the new chairman at the theatre's annual general meeting on November 2, which will begin at 8pm.