YOUNGSTERS have brought some early Christmas cheer to local pensioners by inviting them to a preview of their pantomime.

Senior citizens from the Newton Hall area of Durham were treated to music and dance when upper school pupils at the city's Blue Coat Junior School held the dress rehearsal for their production of Cinderella.

This version of the popular panto, written by deputy headteacher Karen Dooley, will play to sell-out audiences.

Acting headteacher Mabel Hepplewhite said: "We invited local pensioners to the dress rehearsal and they really had a good time. They had seasonal refreshments afterwards.''

The lower school pupils invited youngsters from Newton Hall Infants School to their nativity play yesterday.

Today's two public performances are sold out