Two ten-year-olds have taken the first steps on the ladder to becoming professional dancers.

Daniella Ockerby and Sophie Hall have been offered the chance of a lifetime after winning places on the Northern Ballet Theatre Junior Associates Programme.

They beat hundreds of other young hopefuls in recent auditions and will begin their classes in September with NBT's expert teachers and choreographers.

Both girls are pupils at the DM Academy at Shipley where teacher Deana Morgan said she was delighted at their success.

"This is the first step to becoming a professional ballet dancer," said Mrs Morgan. "I'm really proud of them both. There were tears when the letters arrived to say they had been successful.''