IT WAS never going to be a case of her not going to the glitzy gala dance and unlike the legendary Cinderella she was neither dressed in tatters nor meant to be miserable.

However, for local beautician Di Breen a fairytale godmother did wave her magic wand in the shape of fashion icon Suzanne Neville – the illustrious international designer famous for her ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and X-Factor creations – who told her: "You shall go to the ball – and you shall go in one of my gowns."

And with an extra helping of Christmas goodwill she told her she could borrow a little black number – the very same corset and tutu-style dress recently worn by singing superstar Alesha Dixon in a Cosmopolitan spread – for the charity affair for free even though it had a staggering £5,500 price tag on it.

All Suzanne asked from her award-winning wedding dress store in Beauchamp Place in fashionable Knightsbridge in London was: "What does she look like in it?"

And when staff based at her newly opened luxury boutique at Kings Court on Water Lane, Wilmslow, replied: "Stunning!", a dream came true for the mum-of-three.

"She said I could borrow it for a special night I was attending," said blonde ex-model and air stewardess 44-year-old Di, a graceful size 10. "As I gazed in awe at the black dress in the shop window I was lured in to try it on even though I knew I could never afford to buy it.

"I never expected beyond my wildest dreams that I would end up borrowing it. I am still pinching myself. I felt like Cinderella going to the ball."

It was actually more like Cinderella Rockerfella since socialite Suzanne who lives in Pott Shrigley and works part-time as a make-up artist at Space.NK apothecary on Water Lane, Wilmslow, where she had her face made up by artist Regina Woolfstein, is no stranger to the high life.

She had already earmarked a glamorous gown she had only worn once ready for Saturday night’s spangled High Sheriff’s charity ball at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.

And there was no pumpkin in this happy-ever-after tale as her partner Steve Palmer, boss of Unicom phone company, had booked a gleaming chauffeur-driven limousine to drive them there from his Over Alderley home.

"It was a fabulous night and I felt like a princess," she said. "I had one near miss when a guest accidentally bumped into a waiter and some champagne spilt onto the backs of the tuxedos worn by the two men in our party, but luckily it missed me!

"But I never gave it a second thought. I felt really comfortable and at ease with wearing the dress. I just felt so special."

Laura Pegna, sales consultant, at the new Wilmslow shop that specialises in couture wedding and evening dresses, and who actually fitted the dress on to Di on Saturday night, said: "Suzanne Neville doesn’t loan gowns out as a rule. It was only because it was being worn for a really good cause.

"But Di did look stunning in the dress. The corsetry of the couture made her figure look absolutely fabulous. The detail on this garment is incredible. Each flower is laser cut with a black diamonte stone in its centre."

Di, told her children, Fabia, seven, Nirico, 13, and 14-year-old Tiffany to keep the secret of the Antoinette short black dress so no one would know about it until she actually went to the ball, which they did.

Following a champagne reception and feast and dance she left in style – with BOTH glass slippers, a pair of Jane Shilton designer diamonte stilettoes – in tact.

After all this was one girl who had her own handsome prince to go home with, her dashing partner Steve Palmer, 50, who was still quietly bemused as to why his princess should have two gowns to go to one ball.