FOR two maths teachers at a Bolton school, numbers are usually of prime concern.

But next week Alistair dela Hoyde and Adam Gillibrand will be concentrating on figures of a different kind.

In the best traditions of panto, the pair are to be transformed into Cinderella's two ugly sisters, Asphyxia and Euthanasia.

And next week the duo will put their new identities to the test when they take centre stage during Harper Green School's pantomime performance.

The school has been in rehearsals since September with pupils from all year groups making up the rest of the cast.

Both teachers were drafted in to spare the blushes of two of their pupils.

Mr dela Hoyde explained: "If we chose children to take the parts, they would have to live it down for the rest of the school year -- a stigma I'm sure none of them would want."

The 30-year-old has to wear heavy make-up, a blonde wig and a black and white polka-dot blouse, topped off with big eye lashes.

His colleague, Mr Gillibrand, who is also head of year 11, will sport a large wig, tights and a garish green two piece dress.

Mr Gillibrand, 29, said: "It's going to be more Lily Savage than Dame Edna Everage that's for sure. We've got some outrageous costumes which we keep adding to all the time."

Neither have become too attached to cross-dressing, however, both strongly vowing never to be seen off-stage in the costumes.

Except in the pages of the BEN it seems. Mr Gillibrand said: "It's all a bit of fun and the children have been really excited by it all. It's the first time we have put on a pantomime for a long time."

Cinderella will be played by 14-year-old Helen Burke. The school's head boy Alec Waddington will be Buttons while head girl Joanna Allardyce will be Prince Charming.

The show, directed by drama teacher Amanda Thorp, will take place at Harper Green School's 260-seater drama complex on December 18, 19 and 20 at 7pm.

Mr Dela Hoyle said: "The three performances are close to selling out which is giving us all a buzz.

"But that's a lot of people seeing us dressed as women."