CHRISTMAS has come early for a North-East teenager who beat off competition from hundreds of girls to play the title role in a pantomime.

Lauren Hall, 17, will star as Cinderella alongside ex-EastEnder Jill Halfpenny in the production, to be staged at Newcastle's Theatre Royal.

Lauren, from Washington, Wearside, will be taking her glass slippers and gown to join the rest of the cast next week for the start of rehearsals.

Theatre spokesman David Brookbanks said: "Girls from all over the North-East queued for hours to be seen by the pantomime's producer and director, Michael Harrison, and a distinguished panel of judges as the regional leg of a nationwide Search for a Cinderella campaign arrived in Newcastle this month."

The production will run from Saturday, December 10 until Saturday, January 21.

Tickets are priced from £5 to £19.50 and can be booked by calling the box office on 0870 905 5050.

Alternatively, log on to the theatre's website at www. theatreroyal.co.uk