A FIXTURE clash, which pitched Tosca against Tugay, has forced the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn to re-arrange its Saturday schedule.

It has delayed the start of its evening of opera, after the kick-off between Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool, at Ewood, was put back until 5.15pm for Sky television.

Now, the the curtain will go up on a night of 'Love, Passion and Death,' by the North Star Opera, at 8pm, rather than 7.30pm.

The company, with singers from throughout the north west, will be performing excerpts from a number of operas, such as Madame Butterfly, La Boheme and Tosca.

Said theatre director Jamie Haddow: "Football fans would have just been leaving Ewood as our audience were trying to arrive and the traffic would have been horrendous.

"It has posed a dilemma, as we couldn't delay it too late, as it's a long programme and neither could we cancel, as we have sold more than 100 tickets and people are travelling from such places as Cumbria."

The theatre also wants to inform football supporters that its car park in Aqueduct Road, will be closed before the start of the game, as parking is needed for theatre patrons and the show's assembly.