A NORTH-EAST teenager beat off competition from 500 other youngsters to be given a place as a backing dancer at a TV awards ceremony.

Andrea Clifford, 15, was one of only 20 dancers chosen to appear at the Disney Channel Kids Awards ceremony in London, in September.

Andrea, who lives in Belmont, Durham City, will appear on the show with pop band A1.

Andrea said: "I've done shows before, but never anything as big as that, so I was really nervous at the auditions.

"We were dancing in groups of 100 and then they gradually got it down to the last 20. I couldn't believe I got that far. It's amazing," she said.

Andrea, who is a pupil at Greenhaff Dancing School, in Belmont, hopes to have a career as a dancing teacher.

The awards, which honour children's television presenters, shows and bands will be broadcast on the Disney Channel