THREE lucky sisters had a dream come true when they got to tread the Broadway boards.

Teacher Nicola Crabtree and sisters Victoria and Laura got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a backstage tour of the Beauty and the Beast production in New York.

The sisters were invited on stage and for a behind-the-scenes peek at the actors and their costumes by family friend, Jamie Ross, who plays Maurice, Beast's father in the hit Disney musical.

Nicola, who teaches English at Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe, said the "magical" experience was a dream come true.

The 26-year-old travelled to the Big Apple with her sisters Victoria, 29, of Whalley Road, Read, and Laura, 21, the manageress of The Waggoners, Manchester Road, Burnley, earlier this month.

Nicola, of Woodhead Road, Read, said the classic musical at the Lunt-Fonanne Theatre on 46th Street was "simply amazing".

She said: "I go to the West End a lot but I have never experienced anything like it.

Nicola added: "It was an experience that we'll never forget.

"Jamie was an absolute delight to meet.

"He told us how he moved from Scotland to America when he was just 18 to pursue an acting career.

"I'd always dreamt that one day I'd be on the red carpet so just to go onto the stage was a dream come true. "