TONIGHT'S show at York's Grand Opera House will go ahead, as it emerged how last night's fire could have had much more serious consequences.

Staff used fire extinguishers to tackle burning stage curtains after a cleaner raised the alarm.

A spokeswoman said the cleaner was cleaning in the auditorium after yesterday's matinee performance when they noticed the curtain was on fire, and the building was evacuated.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said the curtains were set alight after electrical lighting suffered a 'glitch.'

Last night's performance of Rock of Ages was cancelled but now a spokeswoman has revealed that tonight's show - for which 400 people had already booked tickets - can go ahead as scheduled.

She said the curtain had been removed and there was a 'slight odour' left from the fire but the doors had been kept open all day to reduce the smell, and she didn't think it would cause customers any problems.

She said people who missed last night's performance could either get tickets for another night or a refund.

Firefighters from York, Acomb, Huntington and Selby, who were called to the theatre in Cumberland Street at 5.40 pm, used three hose reels to put out the fire, and used a fan to ventilate the building.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said the blaze caused smoke damage as well as fire damage to the curtains and electrical cabling.