A YOUNGSTER is to play a star role in front of the Queen, thanks to a cheeky letter asking if she could take part in a jubilee tribute.

Becky Barton, aged 10, of Cross Lane, Clitheroe, will be the youngest member of the 2,000-strong cast in a tribute to the Queen's life and her love of horses.

She will take the leading role acting as the Queen when she was a child learning to ride.

Becky, a pupil at Waddington and West Bradford Primary School, has been riding since she was just four.

She wrote a letter to the Queen, including a picture of her horse Bob, which begged the monarch for a part in the All The Queen's Horses extravaganza.

The Queen replied to the youngster and told her she would send the letter to organisers of the show.

Becky, who keeps her two horses Bob and Woody at Broomhill Equestrian Centre, Grindleton, then got the invitation to take part in the show, which will also have 1,000 horses.

Becky said: "I have been told I will play the Queen when she was learning to ride a horse -- which will be quite funny trying to be the Queen in front of her!

"I don't feel nervous about any of it because I am used to taking part in shows and riding in front of people -- I just hope the Queen likes me.

'I will be taking Bob with me, so I know he will be well behaved and perform well."

Becky will be part of the tribute for the Queen's Jubilee celebrations which will be hosted at Windsor Park over three days starting on Thursday, May 16.

Senior members of the Royal Family, including Prince Philip, will be attending the equestrian spectacular as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Proud parents Pip and Chris Barton will be escorting Becky to the show.

Pip said: "I saw a leaflet about the event and told Becky. We didn't know who to write to, so for a joke I said to Becky 'Why don't you write to the Queen and ask her.'

"Of course being a child Becky took that seriously and did. The Queen replied three weeks later, saying she had forwarded Becky's request.

"We will have to be in London for a week for rehearsals before the show.

"It is a unique experience and will be something Becky can treasure for the rest of her life -- not many people could say that they were the Queen for three days!"

A spokesman for the All the Queen's Horses show said: "Becky is playing a very unique part which will be performed in front of the Queen.

"All of the applicants were carefully considered and Becky was perfect to play a little Queen."