A TEENAGE goth who has an inoperable heart condition was given a dream start to her school prom after being driven to the party in a horse-drawn hearse.

In a Cinderella story with a twist, 16-year-old Sandra-Lee Prewitt had her fairy grandmother, Patsy Prewitt, to thank for arranging for the black and ivory carriage to take her to the ball.

Sandra-Lee, who attends King James I Academy, in Bishop Auckland, was expecting to travel to the prom at Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington, in her grandparents’ car.

However, she got a fantastic surprise when she saw the hearse, which came with driver and groom, both dressed in black, and two resplendent Friesian horses.

The teenager, who uses a wheelchair, has had a hole in the heart since birth and also has lung problems.

She went to the prom in a black lace dress, which was made for her, with matching boots and jewellery.

The carriage picked her up from her home in Neasham, near Darlington, before making the journey to the prom.

Her grandmother, Mrs Prewitt, who organised the surprise, said: “Sandra-Lee has been very down recently because all of her friends are going to the prom in limos and she wasn’t able to get one.

“But she loves anything to do with goths, so I knew she would love this.

“A few weeks ago, we were talking about the prom and I joked that a hearse would be better than a limo because of her wheelchair. She said ‘can we, can we?’ but I didn’t mention it again.

“She is a very bubbly girl and is fantastic. She certainly deserves it.”

The hearse was provided by the North-East Carriage Company, based in Stanley, County Durham.

John Stephenson, managing director of the company, said: “We are always happy to help anybody in whatever way we can and we were glad to do this for Sandra-Lee.

“We provided a carriage for Cheryl and Ashley Cole’s wedding, so we do everything from pop princesses to goth princesses.”

Sandra-Lee said last night: “I was totally shocked when I saw the carriage, I was just trying not to cry.

“If I could have dreamt of any way to go to the prom, it would have been in a hearse.

“All day I haven’t been looking forward to the prom – I am now.”