THE show will go on for York Opera after its leading lady had to pull out because of a serious back injury.

Soprano Pat Casement has stepped in to take over Julia Ledger's part in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana - despite herself having only recently recovered from a serious head injury.

Pat will sing the role of Santuzza in the opera, which will be staged in tandem with Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci at York Theatre Royal next week.

Julia, of York, who was looking forward to her first time as prima donna at the Theatre Royal, said she had been left immobile and frustrated after suffering a prolapsed disc.

Pat, who is a police officer from Hull, said she had suffered a head injury in a freak accident during a riot training exercise last year, when she was struck by a brick.

She said it had left her out of action for months, but she had recovered well enough to get back to work and now felt able to take on the role of Santuzza.

York Opera spokeswoman Pauline Marshall said: "I feel so sorry for Julia, who would have made a first-rate job of it, but it is wonderful for York Opera that Pat feels well enough now to take it on.

"Santuzza is one of the best dramatic soprano parts in the operatic repertoire.

"I played the part of Santuzza on all of the previous three occasions that York Opera have done Cavalleria, singing under my maiden/professional name of Pauline Chadwick. Pat learned the part in 1991 when she was studying singing with me, and she kindly agreed to be my cover. It's great for her that she will finally get a crack at singing the part for real, especially after her injury problems. I know she will be excellent."

Updated: 12:48 Friday, June 17, 2005