MAYFLOWER staff have been praised for " going beyond the call of duty" after a wheelchair user suffered technical difficulties at a performance of The Band.

Take That fan Nicky Frankcom who is a wheel chair user went to the show- which features the band's hits, with her mum this week.

But shortly after arriving theatre staff became aware that they were struggling to manoeuvre the chair which had become "wobbly" and they were in danger of missing the show.

Mayflower usher Sandra Parkinson took the wheelchair to the venue's maintenance craftsman Russell Charlton who carried out an on-the-spot repair during the show and returned it to Nicky at the interval.

Nicky was so delighted with the marvellous care and attention given to her that she wrote in a lovely thank you letter to the theatre and wants to return specially to the Mayflower to give Russell and colleagues some thank you gifts.

Nicky says that in an age of perpetual complaints, she’d like to flag up the Southampton theatre's amazing customer service.

She said: "Russell met me, had a look at my chair, said he had some bolts that might fit so he would take it away to his workshop once I had transferred to my seat.

"He was so friendly and reassured me he would do what he could."

Then when fellow staff member Stephen Belding returned it to her he even brought her some refreshments too.

"Staff went out of their way to help...they were very helpful, kind and nothing was too much trouble," said Nicky.

Russell told the Daily Echo:"I looked at the wheelchair and there was a bolt missing where the wheel was and the handles were falling apart so I took it to the workshop and gave it an MOT. I don't know how she even got it there in the first place as it was falling apart. I fix anything from toilet doors to broken theatre sets and even props for the shows. I think she was in shock when we returned it to her in the interval all mended. When I got a letter from her thanking me it really did make my day."

A Mayflower Theatre spokesperson said, “The theatre prides itself on high levels of customer service, and this is just one example of where the Mayflower team go above and beyond.”