A NORTH-East student has been selected to become a member of the National Youth Musical Theatre.

Fourteen-year-old Beth Purvis will make her debut with the company at the Newcastle Theatre Royal during the summer holidays.

Beth, a pupil at Hurworth Comprehensive School, near Darlington, was chosen from 5,000 applicants at the initial auditions, with 450 others being recalled to a final audition in London.

From there, 200 children were selected to appear in shows all over the country. The talented teenager is going to be in a production called The Late Sleepers, which is a musical set in the future.

A spokesman from Hurworth Comprehensive School said: "This young lady has been involved in music since she was three years old. She is also a member of Spennymoor Youth Theatre, Durham Youth Company and Durham Youth Musical Theatre."

The multi-talented youngster also also plays the cornet and has two sisters who are following in her musical footsteps.