April 27, 2001 15:42: MEMBERS of an amateur operatic society have vowed the show must go on after thieves stole a car with hundreds of pounds worth of Wild West costumes on the back seat.

Pedestrians watched in amazement as saloon girl corsets, cowboy shirts and leather chaps were flung onto the streets of West Wickham from the lilac Toyota snatched from costumier Eve Stone on April 23.

Mrs Stone was about to take her work from her shop, the Green Room, on Croydon Road, to the West Wickham Operatic Society, which is rehearsing Oklahoma for an end-of-May performance at the Churchill Theatre.

But she realised her plans were scuppered when she received a call from an irate woman saying somebody driving her car had almost killed her daughter.

When she went outside to check her car, she found it had been stolen.

Mrs Stone said: "The woman traced me because the thieves were throwing everything out of the windows, including my pet dog's inoculation card which had my telephone number on it."

"We've recovered many of the costumes but some of them were ruined. It's so upsetting because they are like babies to me it's like losing a person. She added: "The police haven't been much help. I reckon an old granny on a bicycle would have caught them.

"It will cost me money but I shall make sure the society get their costumes somehow."

Victoria Faint, from the West Wickham Operatic Society, said: "This has not made things easier for us but we've got to have the costumes, somehow or other.

"We've been rehearsing for four months and hope it all won't be in vain. It's very frustrating."

A police spokesman confirmed officers were investigating the theft. Anybody who can help them with their enquiries should call 020 8284 8052.