In the fairytale Cinderella, a pumpkin was magically turned into a beautiful coach.

Now, Bristol has it's own, real-life version of the traditional fairy story.

And since this is a big, 21st-century city, there have been a few changes.

There isn't one fairy godmother but two: Jan Capel and Heidi Wood (or The FGs, as they prefer to call themselves), who set up the Bristol Prom Project to ensure pupils can go to leaving balls in style without spending a fortune.

What's more, there isn't just one Cinderella. There are hundreds of girls (and boys) from all over the city for whom the school prom could be too costly to attend.

And in this modern-day fairy tale, a pumpkin doesn't turn into a carriage.

Instead, Jan and Heidi have had an old Morris Minor transformed into a street-wise, vehicular version of a pumpkin carriage.

Jan says: "We've been described as real-life fairy godmothers – although we prefer to be called FGs – so this seemed to be the perfect way of getting around."

Heidi – who came up with the idea for the Bristol Prom Project when she was faced with the challenge of getting a prom dress for her 16-year-old daughter Poppy – adds: "I've seen people nearly snap their necks looking at it!

"Sometimes I'll be driving in it and I'll wonder why everyone is staring at me. Then I'll realise it's because of the car."

The car was given its new look by Bristol-based graffiti artist Ded Posh after Chris Williams, at Southmead Tattoo Studio, became the Bristol Prom Project's first sponsor.

"Without him we wouldn't have been able to afford to get the car sprayed up," says Jan, 37, of Brislington.

"Now we're going to use the car as part of projects that the Bristol Prom Project is doing with local schools."

Jan and Heidi, 38, of Knowle, have already begun working with pupils at Bristol Metropolitan Academy in Fishponds, and Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe.

Jan explains: "They're going to be getting involved with campaigns for people to donate dresses, and they're supporting us in lots of practical ways – from helping to jazz up some of the plainer dresses, to designing logos for our website and for the car."

Heidi says: "There are all sorts of educational aspects to this. For example, at Bridge Learning Campus they're going to be having a debate about proms and a fashion show."

Siaran Morgan-Lloyd, the Year 11 Student Achievement co-ordinator at Bristol Metropolitan Academy, approached Jan and Heidi about involving some of her students with the Bristol Prom Project.

"As an ICT teacher, I realised I could use their business as a scenario for our students," she says.

"They were already being asked to design logos, headed paper, business cards – and what better than to use a real business instead of a made-up one?

"Our Year 9 pupils are starting to investigate the idea of proms so that they can start to design the logo and corporate image for BPP. The Year 9 project incorporates not only the logo design, but the setting up of spreadsheets, databases, multimedia presentations and advertising.

"Our Year 11s are busy starting to organise our prom, and have plans to organise a fashion show in the new year – not only to publicise the dresses and suits on offer, but also to raise money to reduce the cost of the prom for students. We intend sharing some of the profits with a chosen charity of Bristol Prom Project."

Jan and Heidi have gathered a collection of donated ball dresses that they hire out from £5, plus a £5 cleaning charge, so that parents do not have to spend hundreds of pounds buying outfits for a school prom. They also have items such as dinner jackets, evening shoes, bags, costume jewellery and tiaras, and arrange spray-tan sessions, hair and beauty treatment, and chauffeured vehicles driven by well-wishers from local hire companies.

"It looks like we'll be helping out a lot more 'credit crunch Cinderellas' this year, so we're trying to increase our collection," says Jan.

"We're appealing for help from anyone who can donate party dresses, prom dresses, bridesmaids dresses, dinner jackets, or tiaras – anything that could help us support more kids, and enable more families who are struggling in these economic conditions to avoid an unnecessary expense."

Heidi is also hoping someone will be able to donate an old dressmaker's dummy. "I want to be able to photograph and catalogue all the dresses, so they can be seen on our website," she explains.

She adds: "My dream would be to get Justin Lee Collins involved. He's a Bristol boy, and we'd love him to be a Bristol Prom Project trustee."

For the moment, Jan and Heidi are being kept occupied by the temperamental ways of the Bristol Prom Project car, which had been off the road for nearly two decades before Jan bought it.

"Over the last three weeks, we've broken down around 50 times. The drivers of Bristol have been so patient with us and the recovery drivers have been so careful with her," she says.

"Adrian and the guys at the Jarrett and Smith garage have been brilliant in helping me get the car to its urgent appointments, and my friends and neighbours – Nick, Gizzmo and Spud – have been fantastic.

"If I stand outside my house with the bonnet up and a spanner in my hand, one of them usually appears. It's like the car has some kind of greasy fairy godmother of her own!"

It turns out that even the car has a story – and, of course, it is one with a happy ending.

Jan explains: "She came to me a year ago to be used for parts for my old Morris, but she was too beautiful to be a donor car.

"The guy who owned her before us is a diamond. He's in his eighties, and the car had been off the road for 18 years. Once a month for 18 years he turned the engine with the handle so she wouldn't seize.

"He's thrilled she's back on the road, and even more thrilled that she is bringing so much fun to us and our project. As soon as she's ready for the trip, we'll be taking him out for a spin!"