Bradford starlet April James will be starring in a new BBC drama inspired by Wuthering Heights.

The eight-year-old, pictured, from Calverley plays Lisa Bolton, the younger sister of feisty Carol - played by At Home With The Braithwaites star Sarah Smart - in Sparkhouse, a romantic and tragic love story set in the Yorkshire Moors.

April is a pupil at The Girls Grammar School, Bradford and also attends Centre Stage Academy of Performing Arts in Leeds.

She fought off competition for the role from more than 100 other children in a three- stage selection process.

Mum Joanne, 31, said: "They couldn't believe that this was her first audition. She's done extremely well."

April said she was "really excited" when she learned she had got the role and wants to become an actress.

She worked with a speech therapist to perfect a broad Yorkshire accent and got into character for her role as a poverty-stricken child by not washing her hair for a week before filming started in Hebden Bridge.

Sparkhouse will be screened on BBC1 on Sunday at 9pm.