IT may seem strange to be putting on a pantomime in June, but the musical production of Cinders provided pupils at Potterne Primary School, near Devizes, with a happy end to what has been a tragic school year.

Cinders, a musical version of the Cinderella story with a twist one of the Ugly Sisters fits the slipper so Cinders ends up marrying Buttons was supposed to be performed at the school at Easter, but it was postponed following the tragic deaths in a car accident of villagers Graham and Nicola Smith, whose ten-year-old daughter Lucy attends the school.

Head teacher Clare Brookes said: "The crash happened on the Friday before the play was due to go on, so we cancelled it in respect for the family. But the children had worked so hard on it, it seemed a shame to lose it altogether. At the beginning of the term we were up to our ears in SATs exams, so we left it until after half term.

"It may seem strange to put on a panto in midsummer, but everyone has enjoyed doing it."

The show was produced by teachers Sue Zulver and Jo Furniss with Sandra Mayo playing the keyboards.