A SUCCESSFUL musician has graduated from the country's leading music college.

Laura Hird, 21, from Norton, Teesside, has gained a first class honours degree at London's Royal Academy of Music.

She is the first recorder player in eight years to have been awarded this honour by the academy.

She studied the recorder at the college for four years with Professors Peter Holtslag, from Germany, and Anneke Boeke, of Holland.

Ms Hird's talent was first noticed by her former teacher Jane Rumney, of Norton, who prepared her for her academy studies.

She has a rosy future in music, having launched a CD recording of her work in London this year, and has been offered a post-graduate place at a Milan college.

But she needs to obtain course funding to help launch a career as a soloist recorder player.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Ms Hird should contact (01642) 673597.