THE BLACKPOOL girl who played Emmerdale's bitch from hell is switching from soaps to Cinders this Christmas.

Eighteen-year-old Raine Davison has landed the starring role in the Preston Guild Hall's festive panto, Cinderella and says she can't wait for the opening night on December 12.

"I've been having singing lessons and I'm learning my lines. But the only other stage work I've done was in school," says the former Arnold School pupil.

Raine's parents, Jan and Steve Brett are both well-known on the local cabaret circuit and Raine admits that in the past she has sometimes found them a bit embarrassing.

"They used to do show-biz 50s and 60s pop star impressions. And when I brought friends home to tea, I never knew who would be in the kitchen.

"It could have been mum dressed in a sticky-out dress with feathers and dangly earrings as Alma Cogan. Or dad as Dr Hook in black, hippy-type wig and flares," she laughs.

Raine, who played Eve Birch in Emmerdale and Abbie Butcher in Crossroads, says her two TV characters couldn't have been more different.

"Eve killed her dog and her teacher and put her boyfriend in jail. Abbie was the absolute opposite, a real girlie girl like me, " she explains.

After living in Leeds for her run in the Emmerdale series, Raine's glad to be back in Blackpool for a while and enjoys all the comforts of home.

"I get my bed made, washing and ironing done and lovely food cooked for me. It's great."