A Haworth singer has swapped the high seas for the heavens by setting up a theatre school in the village.

Paula Mercer has spent four years performing on cruise ships sailing around the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Caribbean.

Now back on dry land, and living with her parents, she has set up the Little Angels school for star-struck girls and boys.

Paula will teach aspects of stagecraft, including drama, tap dancing, singing and confidence building.

She says the accent is on fun, with each week's session involving a mix of activities and leading towards a production.

She says: "The aim is to get local children involved. We might get budding stars, but it will most likely be people wanting to put on a small show."

Paula, 29, of Brow Top Road, has been involved in the theatre since the age of four, when she joined Scala Kids.

She was with the Bradford theatre group for 18 years and went on to perform in musicals such as Oliver, Anything Goes, High Society and Annie.

She appeared in about eight amateur shows a year -- including a handful with East Morton Entertainers -- as well as taking small TV and singing roles.

About four years ago Paula was recruited by P&O to perform as a lead female vocalist on its cruise ships.

She says the job is not easy, not only due to the non-stop work schedule, but because the entertainers are "on show" all the time. She says: "People think they know you because they've seen you on stage -- they want to talk to you even when you go down to get a cup of coffee in the middle of the night."

Since Paula came home last year she has performed in several amateur shows across the district, particularly with Idle and Thackley Amateurs.

For the past seven months she has run theatre skills classes for the society's junior members. The success of the class, which now has 87 children, prompted her to set up Little Angels.

Little Angels runs each Monday at Haworth Parish Church Hall, from April 23. Paula can be contacted on 01535 647374 or 07929 528267.

There will be weekly sessions for different ages: three to six-year-olds at 4pm, seven to 10 at 5pm, and over 10s at 6pm.