SCHOOLGIRL Holly Avery is hoping her remarkable stature will help her career choice to reach great heights.

Holly, 15, is 6ft 4in tall, which means she towers above her classmates - and teachers - at Hurworth Comprehensive School, near Darlington.

And with her 49in legs, Holly is hoping a lucrative career in modelling will beckon, providing she does not grow too tall.

The teenager, who lives in Hurworth, comes from a tall family, with her mother measuring 5ft 11ins. But Holly still soars above her father, brother and four sisters.

She says her height has advantages and disadvantages.

"One good thing is that I can see everybody, because I look down on them - and everybody can spot me," she said.

"Everybody knows me, and it just makes me individual."

Holly's height is also an obvious asset when she is playing netball, whether as a goalkeeper or goal attacker.

But buying clothes is a particular problem, as most shops do not stock outfits long enough.

She said: "It's murder getting trousers. I shop at Long Tall Sally, but sometimes they're not long enough and my mum often makes my clothes.

"She had to turn the hems down on my school trousers."

Holly even made inquiries to see whether her legs could get her in the record books, only to find out she missed a place by three-quarters of an inch.

She said: "I contacted the Guinness Book of Records and they said the record was 49.75ins, but I was really chuffed that I was nearly there."

When not at school, Holly's favourite hobby is riding her horse, Tommy, and she often takes part in showjumping competitions.

But Holly, who believes she is still growing, is hoping to pursue a career in modelling when she leaves school.

She said: "I was doing some modelling for an agency, but I haven't been doing much recently because of my school work.

"I'd like to do more, but I don't know if I'm going to be getting too tall for it."

Staff at Hurworth School, where Holly has just been made a prefect, say they are extremely proud of their leggy pupil.

Teacher Rita Rees said: "She's a lovely girl, pleasant, hardworking and popular."