A talented teenager is over the moon after being offered places at two of the top dance schools in the country.

Alison Barraclough, 15, is set to take up a place in September at the Elmhurst School of Dance and Performing Arts in Surrey.

But Alison from Cambridge Drive, Otley, could also have gone to the London Central School of Ballet - after both schools offered her scholarships.

The Prince Henry's Grammar School pupil will be dancing in the footsteps of old Elmhurst girls, singer Sarah Brightman and actresses Helen Baxendale, Jenny Agutter and Fiona Fullerton.

Alison, who attends The Newall School of Theatre Dancing in Otley, beat off opposition from full time and foreign students to win the £36,000 scholarship at Elmhurst.

Newall school owner Carol Newbold said: "I'm thrilled to bits, it is very rare for them to give a scholarship.

"She is exceptionally talented, and she is musical which is a huge advantage, I've been teaching ballet for 40 years and I know that Alison is special."

She added: "She is a once a week student and has been chosen over dancers who are training six days a week.

"Alison is every dance teacher's dream, you only ever have to correct her once. She is very intelligent. "

Alison started dancing at the age of six and has been involved with the Northern Ballet since she was 12. She passed her last major exams with honours achieving an impressive 90 per cent.

She said: "I haven't always wanted to dance, but in the last year I've decided that I want to make a career of it."

Her father John, 57, said: "I was pleasantly surprised, you're not always aware just how talented your kids are, I'm no dancer.

"As parents you just have to give all the support that you can."