A YOUNG dancer is hoping to put her best foot forward at a talent competition this weekend.

Eleven-year-old Lauren Rafferty has signed up to take part in the Orange Darlington Festival with other youngsters from the Born to Dance troop.

Two talent competitions are being held as part of the festival held over the Bank Holiday weekend in Darlington town centre.

Youngsters aged 10 to 16 can show off their skills on Saturday in the market square while the over-16s can take to the stage on Monday before a grand final on Monday afternoon.

Lauren's mother Anne Rafferty, works at Orange in Darlington as a Project Manager in the Consumer and Customer Relations Department at Orange and so is delighted her daughter is supporting the festival. The winners of the talent competition will receive an Orange goody bag.

The Orange Darlington Festival is presented by Darlington Borough Council and sponsored by Orange.