ACTRESS Kirsti McDonagh will be skating on thin ice if she goes on the rink outside the theatre where she is taking the lead role in the popular panto, Cinderella.

Kirsti, 17, of Blyth, who is performing at Durham City's Gala Theatre, said: "It's in my contract that I can't go skating in case I injure myself. I used to like to skate when I was little but the rink will be gone before the show is over.''

The nearest she got to gliding across the temporary surface was trying on a skate - rather than the time-honoured slipper at the rink's launch last week.

Theatre spokesman Ed Tutty said: "It wouldn't look too good if Cinderella had to have the glass slipper fitted on a leg with a pot on it because she had broken it.''

The ice rink, run by Teesside-based company Aria Ice at Millennium Place, will be open to the public until Sunday, January 4. As well as public skating sessions, there are themed and charity events on the ice.

The panto, featuring North-East performers, opened last Saturday and also runs until January 4. For details about panto tickets and times call The Gala's box office on (0191) 332 4041.

This Saturday, Cinderella and a few friends will be popping into Durham's Clayport Library to take part in a children's Storytime session, which runs from 11am until noon.