THE much anticipated Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has finally arrived at Milton Keynes Theatre to give audiences a truly scrumptious slice of musical whimsy.

CCBB, Mary Poppins and Dr Dolittle were the golden trilogy of my youth and I was instantly transported back to childhood within minutes of musical director Adrian Kirk leading the orchestra into a medley of the show's tunes.

The producers claim that the car, officially the most expensive theatrical prop ever created, is the star of this stunning and wonderful show.

I beg to differ. The superlative Sherman Brothers score (not to mention a pack of oh so cute dogs) are right up there with it. It has to be the best play-list ever. Toe tapping, hand-clapping, ingrained-in-your-brain songs like Toot Sweet, Hushabye Mountain and the title tune will stay with you forever.

CCBB, the car, has the magic of its Disney rivel, Herbie, and then some. He was once a grand prix champion three times over before landing on hard times and ending up destined for the scrapheap until being rescued by handsome and eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts (Bedford's Darren Bennett) and his cute moppet kids, Jeremy and Jemima.

Potts, a widower, brings the car back to life and, with the aid of a whole bag of tricks, you soon get sucked into believing that the shiny new vehicle with a penchant for good manners, can fly.

The story revolves around the efforts made to steal the car and take it back to a gadget-mad and totally unbalanced tyrant and his brassy blonde wife and, on a more human level, the Potts' family's attempts to free a nation's children from fear.

There's a couple of blundering spies from the not-so-mythical Vulgaria. The jingoistic writer, Ian Fleming – yes, he of James Bond fame – did love his secret agents though these two twits Doris and Gordon (a madcap double act from Richard Ashton and Nigel Garton) would be hard pressed to earn the moniker 003½ between them.

There's a pair of pantomime baddies in Edward Peel and Kim Ismay as the Baron and child-hating Baroness, beautiful heroine with the unlikeliest of names (Truly Scrumptious - the truly gorgeous Katie Ray), a love story – though not too slushy for the kids in the audience – amazing special effects including an array of Heath Robinson inventions, a cracking company of dancers, and five star performances from everyone.

The true villain of the piece is the evil but wonderfully dressed Child Catcher (Dean Maynard doing his best Richard O'Brien impersonation) who really is the stuff of nightmares.

Some youngsters in the audience may be traumatised for life by the sinister henchman who works for the baroness but he really is a cartoon monster of the highest order.

And then there are the dogs. Not really quite sure why they're there as the mutts are surplus to the story in every way but they're a big hit with the audience who spend the performance languishing in a sugary bath of fantasy delight.

Eight youngsters are touring with the show, swapping into the roles of Jeremy and Jemima but the local child actors, including Leighton's own little Callum Buchanan, make up the junior ensemble and they looked as pleased as punch on opening night.

CCBB is the ultimate in family entertainment. It's one of those landmark musicals that will stay with you forever and, like me, you'll still know every word of the lyrics late into your dotage.

It's playing at Milton Keynes Theatre until March 13. To book tickets contact the box office 0844 871 7652 or www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes