A GLASSBLOWING assistant has presented sculptures of a web, pig and spider to cast members of Charlotte's Web.

Charlotte Hughes produced the pieces for the box office window of the Sunderland Empire.

The theatre has been working closely with The National Glass Centre's Hot Glass Studio, in Sunderland, and this is the second offering it has received.

The idea is to give passers-by something more interesting to see and to help provide an insight into Watershed's production of Charlotte's Web.

Yesterday Charlotte and cast members Timothy Platt, who plays Wilbur the Pig, and Norette Leahy, who plays Charlotte, stepped into the display to bring it to life.

The play is based on EB White's much-loved classic and follows the story of Charlotte, a talking spider, who uses her writing talent to save her friend Wilbur's bacon.

Charlotte's Web started last night and continues until tomorrow. Tickets, priced from £8 to £12, are available from the box office on 0870 602 1130.