A CASH-strapped pupil had A-level results day tinged with regret after being forced to turn down a prestigious university place because she cannot afford to go.

Kimberley Donovan from Shakespeare Street, Padiham, had set her heart on a career as an actress.

She was overjoyed when she was picked from thousands of hopefuls for a place at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.

But course fees of £5,100 and the cost of living in Liverpool meant she has had to turn down the place, despite celebrating three As and a B in her four A-levels.

The 18-year-old student, who studied law, psychology, performing arts and communications at Blackburn College, today spoke of her frustration.

She launched a fundraising bid in July in an attempt to chip away at the £15,000 total cost she expected for the one-year diploma.

She said: "I was amazed when I was picked as one of the 16 on the diploma, as it is one of the best colleges in the country for performing arts.

"But now I am just so frustrated as I had to call and say I could not afford to go.

"The course would have been 9am to 9pm so there would have been no time for paid work.

"I think it is really terrible that I am missing out just because of cash.

"Results day was tinged with regret. I know that if I wanted to do academic subjects, I would be fine and I was invited to look around Oxford."

Kimberley, who has performed extensively at Burnley Mechanics, has written to several companies for sponsorship and contacted several grant bodies, even setting up her own website to drum up funds.

A spokesman from the university confirmed the cost for the "private course" and said: "We fully appreciate that it is hard to arrange finances for such courses and we do provide information to students about avenues to take for raising the funds at an early stage.

"We understand that it can be deeply disappointing for those students who are unable to do so."

But today she faced the prospect of a year of part-time work or calling other Universities through clearing for a place on a similar course. The one-year diploma would have led to a BA Honours degree in performing arts.