NOT only Cinders, but thousands will be going to the ball at a North-East theatre.

Ticket sales for the pantomime Cinderella, being produced at the Billingham Forum, Teesside, this Christmas, are up 40 per cent on this time last year. Manager Derek Cooper said: "We are selling 2,000 seats a week and we are still so far away from Christmas. I never presume anything, but it certainly looks as though we are on to a winner." Timmy Mallett plays Buttons, Jo-Anne Knowles, of Hollyoaks fame, is Prince Charming, with Vicky Hawkins, female lead in Byker Grove, cast as Cinderella. The Ugly Sisters are Curley Carte and Gina Millington. Mr Cooper said: "We have a strong cast. We had very good actors last year, but they were not as strong visually. We have Timmy Mallett and if you had to put a face to a kids' entertainer you could not do one better." The production starts on December 7.