AN ALL-female darts team which competes in a men's league has been recognised for their unique efforts with a special appearance on Tonight at the Palladium.

Compered by Bradley Walsh, the popular variety act show welcomed the NADSS Nutcrackers from Christchurch and they are set to appear on residents' televisions when the programme is broadcast on May 24.

Led by the team captain Fay Hall, the team is made up of Katie Mitchell - daughter of World Darts champion Scott Mitchell - Tina Gooch, Roz Annetts, Julie Frampton, Wendy Lamb, Tracey Mulholland, Janet Bostock, Janice Magookin, Sharon Barnett and Ann Llewelyn - who won a car on the British game show Bullseye in 1990.

The group visited London's Palladium on Wednesday evening (MAY 10) to film the episode. Though the Daily Echo can't reveal too much about their visit, Ms Hall said that the team took part in a question-and-answer session and that they thoroughly enjoyed their visit.

Forty-six-year-old Ms Hall, of Sway, said: "It was brilliant. It is an experience we'll never do again. It was just amazing."

Ms Hall said she put the team together hoping to do something "a bit different".

"I decided to put an all-ladies darts team together. And we didn't come last," she added, speaking of their first match.

When asked how the men of the Christchurch Clubs' Darts League responded to the women's arrival, Ms Hall said: "We had a couple of teams that didn't like it but they seemed to have warmed to us now."

It was existing player Alan Gooch that managed to get the TV production company onto the women's situation, Ms Hall said.

It is believed to be the first all-female team to have taken part in the Christchurch league.

"There have been mixed teams before but never an all-ladies team," Ms Hall added.

Ms Hall's husband, John Taylor, described the group as "a revelation to the game of darts".

The show has so far featured the likes of Barry Manilow, Bananarama and the Chinese State Circus as the entertainment.