A Keighley mother has complained to theatre bosses that a children's show frightened her daughter so much they had to walk out.

Judith Sims says scenes of mice with machine guns, a blood-stained baby and a head on a pole left her daughter clinging to her in fear at West Yorkshire Playhouse at Leeds.

Theatre bosses received a similar letter of complaint about the same production of The Nutcracker from an Ilkley woman who took her eight-year-old grand-daughter to see the play.

Both women claim the brochure for the production was misleading. Mrs Sims believed the play would be similar to the story she knew from books and the ballet where toys come to life and a nutcracker turns into a prince.

Playhouse bosses have defended the production, which opened on December 16 and runs until January 23. A spokesman confirms the theatre has had a number of objections, including that from Mrs Sims, but says there is no plan to change the brochure.

"We have had a number of letters of objections but also letters saying how good the show is," says the spokesman. "We can only suggest the age range that our children's work is appropriate for - and the original publicity material does include that the production is for children aged seven and above.

"Although hundreds of children and parents are enjoying The Nutcracker, we are very sorry to hear that Mrs Sims and her family had an unhappy experience at the Playhouse."

The play was written and directed by Michael Birch, the husband of artistic director at the theatre Jude Kelly.

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