WHEN Clayton Short decided to ask for his girlfriend’s hand in marriage, he decided to put on a real show.

He popped the question on stage at York’s Grand Opera House, to cheers from the stars of this year’s pantomime, Cinderella.

Clayton, 20, told partner Jasmine Cherry, 19, he had won a competition to meet the cast of the show backstage following the performance.

However, once the curtain had gone down and the couple were on stage, a nervous Clayton went down on one knee and produced an engagement ring. To the relief of all cast and crew, who were all in the secret, Jasmine said yes straight away.

Clayton said: “I have been nervous for about three months and sitting through the show was the most nervous two hours of my life, but I kept it together.

“Jasmine has always loved the theatre scene, so I thought this would be ideal.”

Clayton, from Blackpool, thanked the staff of the theatre who helped him organise the surprise but admitted if Jasmine had said no he would have “run like the wind.”

A thrilled Jasmine, said: “It was so romantic. I didn’t expect anything. There was no chance at all I was going to say no.”

Former Emmerdale star Lisa Riley was one of those who witnessed the special proposal. Lisa said: “It was beautiful. I think he was really frightened – you could see him shaking but he did it and you could see how much they loved each other.”