Two years ago, following an appearance on hit BBC drama Silent Witness, Chelsea Seymour (17), from West Town, told the ET of her hopes of going to drama school.

Now, after beating 100 other hopefuls to a three-year grant worth £25,000, she is poised to continue to follow her stellar career.

Chelsea has been accepted on to a three-year performing arts course, having successfully completed the foundation course, at the Bodyworks Dance Studio in Cambridge.

A thrilled Chelsea could barely contain her excitement when her mum called her to tell her that the letter informing her whether or not she had the longed-for scholarship had arrived.

Chelsea, who lives with mum Colette and younger sister, Raven, in Midland Road, rushed home to open it, and could not take in the news at first.

She said: "I was just staring at it for ages, and then I was leaping around and screaming. I was so excited."

Proud mum Colette, who is 100 per cent behind her daughter, admitted that without the grant, it would have been a struggle to help support her daughter's dreams.

She said: "Chelsea would not let me open it until she returned, so I was on tenterhooks all day. I am so pleased for her – she has worked so hard for this.

"She has done countless part-time and full-time jobs, while studying at the same time. This means the world to her."

Chelsea, a former pupil at Jack Hunt School, in Netherton, initially had to keep her good news to herself, as several of her friends and classmates had also applied, and grants were scarce.

She added: "My friends all know now, which is a relief, and everyone has been so positive and pleased for me."

Chelsea says she hopes to use the course as a springboard to follow her dreams of appearing in the West End, and would love to perform in her favourite show, the Lion King.

She has already stepped out as a dancer in pantomime at The Cresset, in Bretton, Peterboruogh, but also has appeared as a nosey school girl in Silent Witness, and featured in children's TV programme Kerrching after attending The Ministry of Dance, in Market Deeping, and Fit to Dance at Peterborough Regional College.

She now will undergo a series of Kids from Fame- style auditions, with tutors placing her in the type of dance class to which they think she would be best suited.

Chelsea added: "I think I will be doing musical theatre, which is my dream.

"I'm an all-rounder as I love dancing, singing and acting.

"I am so relieved I got the scholarship.

"It means I can really focus on my course and continuing my career."