A youngster from Bradford who has spent most of her life in one of Britain's biggest soaps is set to appear in some of her most dramatic scenes.

Ten-year-old Hannah Midgley has been in Emmerdale for years and this week she appears in one of the biggest storylines of the year.

She is not letting on how it all ends but she has revealed that one of the highlights is that she got to be a bridesmaid for the first time.

Hannah's character Victoria Sugden - the daughter of Emmerdale stalwart Jack Sugden - is a bridesmaid to Katie Addyman who is marrying Victoria's brother Andy.

As Emmerdale fans will know, Katie has been having a steamy affair with Andy's brother Robert. On the wedding day, shown tonight, Katie can't make up her mind about who she wants to be with - then Robert throws a spanner in the works.

Hannah, a pupil at Blakehill Primary School in Idle, remained tight-lipped about what is going to happen saying she was used to keeping secrets of the soap from her schoolfriends.

"I've been in Emmerdale since I was three so my friends are used to it," she said. "They know I'm not allowed to say anything so they just find out what happens when it's on TV."

The wedding scenes were filmed last month at the Emmerdale set on the Harewood estate.

"I really enjoyed it because I've never been a bridesmaid before," said Hannah. "I wear a pretty cream dress and hold the bride's train down the aisle, she looks beautiful."

Hannah, who attends Debut theatre school in Shipley, joined Emmerdale seven years ago.

Her mother Alison said: "My eldest daughter was always playing football with her brothers so I sent Hannah to dance school to become a bit more feminine! She went to Scala school and they got her into A Touch of Frost when she was 18 months old, then Emmerdale later on.

"I still can't believe she's in it. My husband and I have always been Emmerdale fans - I used to rush home from school to watch it at lunchtimes when it was Emmerdale Farm! Because Hannah has grown up in it she's used to seeing herself on TV and she's quite unfazed by it all, but I still find it exciting.

"I'm always present when Hannah is filming and I still can't get used to seeing her on these sets that are so familiar from the show. There's a lovely family atmosphere on set."

Hannah has been involved in some big storylines over the years. Her character Victoria has been in a bus crash - dug out of the wreckage by rescue workers - rushed to hospital with appendicitis, and caught up in a bitter custody battle between Jack and her mother Sarah. Hannah says her most challenging storyline was when troubled Victoria had an imaginary friend called Walter.

A highlight was when Hannah presented the Queen with some flowers during Her Majesty's visit to the Emmerdale set last year to celebrate the soap's 30th anniversary.

With Emmerdale going out six days a week the schedule can be hectic but Alison said Hannah is only required for occasional filming, which doesn't interfere with her schoolwork.

"She probably does more than other children because she gets extra work," said Alison. "She knows the importance of a good education - she said she wants to do A levels because you never know what will happen in this business."

Hannah is happy to be in Emmerdale for now and wants to continue acting when she leaves school.

"I want to be like Julia Roberts," she said.