Caroline Bright has overcome her fear of flying - but not to travel abroad on a plane.

The 25-year-old consulted a therapist because she has to fly through the air in an amateur stage production at Bradford's Alhambra Theatre.

As soon as she heard she had the part of witch Sukie Rougemont in the play the Witches of Eastwick she was wracked with nerves.

She desperately wanted the part - played by Michelle Pfieffer in the hit film - but knew that her character had not only to tread the boards, but fly above them.

"I knew I would have to fly above the stage, and I have been scared of heights since I was a little girl, so I knew I would have to overcome that.

We are flying really high up, near the ceiling, so I was worried."

So Caroline, of Bingley, trawled the internet and found hypnotherapist Patricia Jackson, who helps people overcome a variety of problems including fear of heights and flying.

Patricia practised what is known as EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique - on Caroline, which she describes as "like acupuncture without needles."

She asked her to award marks as to how fearful she felt over different aspects of being high up. She then tapped on a number of 'meridian' points on Caroline's face and upper body to aid the flow of energy.

During the two-hour session, Patricia took Caroline to Bingley's Five Rise Locks, where, to Caroline's amazement, she was able to stand on the top of the steep lock side and look down without feeling nervous.

Says Patricia: "Caroline contacted me saying she had to become a witch and fly. She was terrified - she said she could barely stand on a chair without her knees trembling."

She added: "She had a fear of falling - of being out of control, but knew she had to overcome it to play the part."

Patricia planned to treat Caroline over two sessions, but the treatment worked first time, and Caroline - who works as a recruitment consultant at Brook Street Bureau in Bradford - felt she could face being lifted up by the special harness that will support her in the production, by Ilkley Upstagers' Theatre Group.

The musical comedy has only been released to 12 amateur companies across the country, Ilkley Upstagers being one of them.

"We were handpicked by Cameron Mackintosh's production company, " said Caroline, who was keen to enjoy her role, alongside fellow 'witches' Samantha Ball and Katrina Wood.

"I wanted to overcome my fear and enjoy it. I will still have to work on my fear, but there is a world of difference between how I feel now and how I felt before."

The Witches of Eastwick is at the Alhambra from May 31 to June 3. For tickets contact the Alhambra box office on 01274 432000 or Ilkley Tourist Information Centre on 01943 602319. To contact Patricia Jackson call 01274 510773.