THE show just had to go on for 11-year-old Helen Willis - despite the fact she fractured her wrist.

Helen, a pupil at King's Hawford School, Worcester, suffered a hairline fracture of the wrist when she fell while practising a dance routine before Monday's dress rehearsal for Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society's Youth Section's production of the musical Annie Get Your Gun.

Her forearm was put in plaster at Worcestershire Royal Hospital but Helen, a dancer in the show at Worcester's Swan Theatre, was determined that months of rehearsal would not go to waste.

When the show opened last night she was on stage with the rest of the cast, although her injury meant that some modifications had to be made to her part to protect her wrist.

"I was a bit nervous in case I fell again, but I thought I would be fine and I was determined not to let the rest of the cast down," said Helen, of Lower Wick, who was taking part in her third show with WODYS.

"This is typical of the dedication that our youngsters bring to their productions", said producer and director David Humphries.

"Helen was in a great deal of pain and no one would have blamed her if she had decided not to continue in the show. But she was so determined not to let the side down and I'm really proud of her."

When Helen fell, WODYS chaperones were quickly on hand to help the girl and they called for the nurse, who is always in attendance during the youth productions.

"We have a trained nurse on hand in case of anything such as this. She was very quick to assess the situation and deal with it, so we are very grateful to her. In fact, this has been the first time we have had to use her for such an emergency," said Mr Humphries.

Annie Get Your Gun opened to a packed audience and the production, which lasts until Saturday night, has virtually sold out.

It is the group's 12th show at the Swan and involves almost 70 youngsters, aged between eight and 18.