TWO students from Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College have won places at the Italia Conti Academy for performers in London.

Beverly Rudd, 17, from Richmond, and 18-year-old Amy Hayes, from Darlington, have been offered places on the BA acting course after auditions.

Many hopefuls have to audition several times before they gain a coveted place at the academy, but Beverly and Amy were successful at their first attempt. This year 2,000 people auditioned for the 24 places.

Beverly's success is even more remarkable, because she has only been acting for a year.

She said: "There is no tradition of acting in my family, and my parents are as excited as I am.

"Even though I took part in the college production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, my parents are yet to see me act. If all goes well I hope to be a professional actress."

Both Amy and Beverly are still auditioning for other drama schools, including Rada and Lamda, and will not make a decision to accept places at the Italia Conti Academy until they have weighed up all their options.