A Bradford ballerina has won the highest accolade for her dancing.

Charlotte Ingleson, 22, was awarded the Seal of a Soloist - the highest award attainable in ballet - after impressing judges at the London Royal Academy of Dance.

And now a promising career in Spain is on the horizon for the young dancer from Horton Bank Top.

Charlotte, pictured, said: "Getting the award is just the icing on the cake. I am so pleased."

Charlotte performed seven different dances - the Genee Ports de Bras, a MacMillan Adage, a classique, and four variations demonstrating different ballet techniques.

She said: "Very few people get the Seal. It takes a lot of hard work and they don't award it to many."

Charlotte started dancing at the age of four and when she was nine was chosen as an Alhambra Sunbeam in Bradford's annual pantomime.

Charlotte said: "Doing panto made me realise how much I loved being on stage. It was great."

Charlotte appeared as a Sunbeam at the Alhambra for three years, working with stars David Essex, Billy Pearce and Max Boyce.

From there she went on to become a junior and then senior associate of the Royal Ballet, attending classes in Leeds and Birmingham.

She said: "I had to get to Birmingham early for a Sunday morning class every fortnight which meant leaving home at a ridiculous time. But I loved it."

At age 13, she appeared on the BBC's Blue Peter with the National Youth Ballet and performed to more than 50 heads of state at the 1995 VE celebrations in Hyde Park.

She also appeared in a production choreographed by the New York Ballet, Ameliaranne and the Green Umbrella.

When she was 14, Charlotte began preparing for her Royal Academy of Dance exams at the Dorothy Stevens Ballet and Theatre School in Lightcliffe.

After achieving the Advanced One and sitting her GCSEs a year early, Charlotte left Bradford for London, where she spent two years at the English National Ballet School.

"It was a big thing leaving home at such a young age to fend for myself," she said.

Graduating at 18, she toured with the European Ballet and Ballet Ireland, and attained her RAD Advanced Two between tours.

She said: "I started working for the Solo Seal in March and trained all day everyday. It was hard work but worth it.

"Seeing the look on people's faces as I danced for the Solo Seal was amazing. Everyone was just smiling at me and some even cried. I was buzzing afterwards."

Dorothy Stevens, who runs the Lightcliffe school where Charlotte trains, said: "As soon as Charlotte steps on stage she is a dancer. She is a real artist and deserves to go far."

Having recently auditioned for the Ballet de Zaragoza in northern Spain, Charlotte must now wait until September for a firm job offer.

But if all goes to plan, she will be jetting-off to tour Spain and Italy in October.