DOROTHY and her dog Toto are the best of friends in The Wizard of Oz.

But when Katie Schofield, a pupil at Canon Slade in Bradshaw, won the part of Dorothy in a slick professional production of the well-loved show there was one slight problem — she was scared of dogs!

Now, after several sessions with a “dog whisperer”, she and Tibetan terrier Wispa, who will play Toto, are bosom buddies.

The show is at The Lowry Theatre, Salford, from November 29 to January 24.

Producer Viv Wells said: “This is the first time I have come across this kind of thing in ten years of producing.

“We didn’t know she was frightened of dogs until we’d given Katie the part. I was worried at first, but then I was confident we could overcome it and we have. I’m sure the show is going to go smoothly.”