PANTOMIME star Laura Main had a birthday to remember, with two parties to celebrate her special day.

The youngster, who is performing in Cinderella at Darlington Civic Theatre, was whisked away to the second party in a chauffeur-driven limousine to mark her 11th birthday.

Because it falls on Boxing Day, Laura's birthday celebrations are usually overshadowed by the Christmas festivities.

But this year, the cast of Cinderella, which includes former Crackerjack star Stu Francis and Home and Away actor Ray Meagher, held a party backstage for Laura between yesterday's two performances.

After the second show, Laura had an even bigger surprise waiting for her, when the limousine drew up at the stage door to take her home to Spennymoor in style for another party.

Her parents, Christine and Paul, organised the limousine for Laura and her friends to make it an extra special birthday.

Mrs Main said: "Normally her birthday gets forgotten because of Christmas.

"It's always a bit wishy-washy, because we never know what to do for her, and her friends are always busy.

"But this year we just thought with her being at the theatre we would organise a limo to pick her up from the stage door to make her feel so special."

Laura, from Spennymoor, attends Oxclose Primary School, and is a member of Joanne Banks Dancers in the town. The dance school has just celebrated its tenth anniversary.

She has appeared in seven shows, but this is her first professional pantomime.

Mrs Main said: "She's absolutely thrilled with it. She just doesn't want to stop. She enjoys dancing so much."