A YOUNG Preston girl has been picked to star in a major new play -- despite being a nine-year-old first time actress.

Holly Bennett entered an unusual competition -- to play the role of a shrunken granny in a stage show of Roald Dahl's, George's Marvellous Medicine.

She was selected from hundreds of entries, to tread the boards at the Charter Theatre, Preston, next month.

Holly said: "I was happy when I heard. I've only acted in my school play before, and I'm looking forward to it.

"I think we are going to be dressing up."

Holly, of Alice Square, Deepdale, entered the competition run by the Birmingham Stage Company, a theatre group which specialises in children's plays.

Holly, a pupil at St Ignatius School, had to write a letter saying why she wanted to take part.

Her mum Patricia explained: "She said 'I'm going to write my own special letter.' That's what she did, and she got picked. She's really looking forward to it, because she likes dressing up."

Holly was chosen alongside Lytham St Anne's youngster Georgia Leggett. The pair will take it in turns to appear in the play.

The youngster will take to the stage on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, March 11, 13 and 14.

Patricia said: "I couldn't tell you how many times she has read the book. She's even got a tape of it.

"She loves to impress people, and she's a character of her own. I was overwhelmed when they phoned up and said Holly had been chosen."

Paul Humphreys, of the Guild Hall, said: "We had a response which we didn't anticipate. There were over 100 applications.

"We were just looking for a really really nice letter from someone who didn't have any formal training or experience, just someone who would be thrilled to do it."