An ice skater needed nine stitches after suffering a gash to the face in front of hundreds of fans.

The accident happened as Sergei Malishev - one of the stars of Sleeping Beauty On Ice - was performing at Sunderland Empire earlier this week.

The 22-year-old was caught by the skating blade of another member of the cast during the opening scene of Act Two.

In true showbusiness-style, the young skater finished the show and was then taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital where he received nine stitches to a facial wound.

He said: "It all happened so quickly - one second I was boosting one of the girls into the air, the next I felt an icy slice across my face.

"I didn't even notice anything until after the scene when I came off stage and one of my colleagues pointed it out."

He added: "I didn't want to be seen as a quitter, so I had a quick clean up and went back on until the end.

"Getting the stitches afterwards wasn't much fun, but I will live."

Sergei returned to the ice after Tuesday night's accident.

Producer Tony Mercer said: "When you are working with skaters, things can go wrong, whether its a problem with the ice or a skater's foot just a centimetre out of place, but fortunately it's not too often."

The show, featuring former world champion Mandy Woetzel, finishes at the Empire tomorrow with matinee and evening performances. For ticket information, please ring the Box Office on 0870 602 1130.