A schoolgirl is among the ballet elite after being accepted into one of Europe's top dance schools.

Claire Guntrip, 17, is attending the Central School of Ballet (CSB) in London where she will study a BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Performance.

Entrance to CSB is through auditions held between October and March each year in London, Glasgow, Leeds, Italy and Japan.

The former Sutton High School pupil said: "You have to be dedicated to make it to the top of this profession but it's my dream to be a dancer at one of the leading ballet companies when I graduate."

Recent CSB students are currently employed with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company and the English National Ballet.