AMERICAN student Dain Sansome came a cropper on his bike the day before his amateur stage debut at Pendle Hippodrome.

But Dain is determined that the show will go on tonight despite cuts, abrasions and bruises to his face and legs.

Dain, 21, from Minnesota, is staying with friends in Burnley Road, Trawden, and has joined Colne Operatic Society for their production of Red Hot and Cole, a musical about the life and music about Cole Porter.

He has been acting as dialogue coach to polish up the cast's American accents, and plays the part of Porter's companion Paul.

But the theatre phrase "break a leg" nearly came true when he was in an accident with a car in North Valley Road.

Car driver Ronald Lunt, of Barnwood Road, Earby, was unhurt, and Dain was taken to Burnley General Hospital and allowed home in time to make the dress rehearsal for the show, which opens tonight.

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