TWO aspiring performers have proved a formidable double act by winning places at a leading stage school.

Friends Helen Whitfield and Gemma Edmenson, both 19, will be attending the Urdang Dance Academy, in Covent Garden, London, after beating off competition from around Europe.

Helen, of Tanfield Village, near Stanley, County Durham, has been dreaming of being a singer and dancer from the age of four.

She said: "This will put me on the road to realising my dream. What has made it all the more special is I will be joining my close friend, Gemma."

Helen and Gemma beat off national and European competition from more than 500 other dancing hopefuls to be two of only 65 young performers to be accepted on to the course, which will give them a National Diploma in Musical Theatre.

Gemma, who met Helen when they both enrolled on the contemporary dance HND course at Newcastle College, said: "I never really expected to get it.

"We auditioned from 9.30am to 6pm. It was very daunting because we appeared in front of each other. The competition was really hard because everybody was so good."

Gemma, of Hartlepool, has performed in a variety of shows, including at South Shields's Customs House, London's Saddlers Wells and in Swing Fever at Newcastle City Hall. Her ambition is to go to the West End.

Both now face the struggle of raising sponsors and financial support to help them through the second and third years of the course.