Screen and stage star Liza Goddard swapped the theatre for the cosy confines of Cromer Community Centre when she appeared in the town to discuss her career.

The actress was in town as part of the annual Coast festival, which this year is focusing on film, and her talk was among the highlights of the busy programme.

Liza, who lives in mid-Norfolk, delighted her appreciative audience as she spoke of her roles in Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, Dr Who and children's TV show Woof, and recalled humorous on set moments.

She had the audience in fits of giggles as she revealed stuffed paws would sometimes have to be used to represent the animal star of the show in Skippy, and while on the set of Dr Who, in which she played a space raider, the end of her gun would always fall off and her plastic helmet would steam up.

Liza was asked to appear at Coast, now in its fourth year, by family friend Eddie Anderson who is a trustee of the festival.

She said: 'We know Eddie and he said would you do this and I said yes. He and (co-ordinator) Siri then kindly cut together a little series of segments from the marvellous things I have been in.'

'I think this (Coast) is a marvellous thing to have,' she added.

'It's exactly the thing small communities need to make people more together and more united in their town, so they have got something joined together to do.'

Her talk in Cromer yesterday built on the successful start to the 10-day festival, which launched on Friday with the premiere of a specially made film at the pier's Pavilion Theatre.

Starring John Hurt, The Blue Balloon makes references to about 30 iconic film moments and was shot in and around Cromer in April.

It will be screened again tomorrow when the festival reveals the winners of its film competition at a glittering awards bash at Sheringham's Little Theatre.

Mr Anderson, a former TV producer, said organisers had decided to expand the festival to include film, alongside art and music, to appeal to a wider and younger audience.

'The technology today makes it so easy to make a film and younger people do it intrinsically, whereas with my generation you had to be professional to make films because it was so expensive,' he added.

'We wanted to get a younger audience and thought why don't we concentrate on film.

'We have had a really good response to our film competition and had some really good films.'

Coast continues until November 3 with highlights including a family Bollywood dance workshop, African drumming session, magic lantern show and film making masterclasses. Spliced among these activities will be screenings of dozens of films at venues across Cromer and Sheringham.

Mr Anderson said: 'We want to offer a wider variety of real live artistic events. And we want to make more things available to local people, incorporating local artists but also bringing in a little bit of outside experience and expertise.'

For more details about Coast and upcoming events visit www.casaf.co.uk or www.coastfilm-festival.com