ACTRESS Marion Aspell knew the show had to go on evn though she was dripping blood all over the stage after a freak accident.

The age-old adage said to thespians before going on stage is 'break a leg' but the leading lady in Wootton Bassett Light Operatic Society's performance of Kiss Me Kate was certainly not going to let a gashed thumb spoil the show.

Ms Aspell, 31, of Wootton Bassett, was successfully treading the boards during the society's 25th anniversary performance last week until she mistook a china mug for a pewter tankard.

"All was going well until I picked up a tankard I thought was made of pewter and smashed it on the table," she said.

"We were halfway through the song I Hate Men during the Shakespearian bit of the musical. The audience in the front row found it very amusing but I didn't I had sliced my thumb and there was a huge flap of skin hanging off.

"I carried on singing because I still had a couple more verses to get through, but didn't realise I had left a huge pool of blood on the stage they say the show must go on."

During a stage break she rushed off and ran her thumb underneath a cold tap to stem the blood flow and finished the rest of the show with a piece of cloth wrapped around her thumb. It's quite a physical show we are putting on this year.

"There are people hitting each other all over the place.

"I feel sorry for the poor old pianist because the blood dripped all over his keys."

Luckily her doctor, William Bliss was in the opening night audience in the Memorial Hall and administered first aid before she went to casualty to have the wound checked.

She said: "I was reading through the programme before the show and it listed all the memorable moments from previous shows.

"I'll bet this incident will go down in society history and get a mention or two in years to come."

Society chairman, Rachel Martin 31, of Branscombe Drive, Wootton Bassett, added: "I think Marion is just an absolute star for carrying on the way she did without most of the audience realising.

"We are all very proud of her. It was quite a memorable first night and something we will not forget for a long time."