AN Otley girl will be taking up a coveted place at a London drama school.

Emeli Mumford will attend the Urdang Academy from September 2021 to do a BA in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre.

Formerly of Westgate Primary and Prince Henry's Grammar School Emeli has been treading the boards locally in school shows, with Damien Poole Theatre Arts in Harrogate and with Upstagers - most recently as Princes Shahazerad in Sinbad at The King's Hall in Ilkley in 2020. She has also performed nationally in three shows with British Youth Music Theatre, with a fourth planned for this summer.

Emeli has reached the final of the national West End Calling Singing Competition two years in a row. She has also raised more than £2500 for Save the Children in recent years, writing Christmas songs and recording them with local children. She is currently working as an early years support assistant at Ghyll Royd School.