HIGH-FLIER Collette Morrow has hit the big-top big-time after landing a once-in-a-lifetime job with the world famous circus troupe, Cirque du Soleil.

Collette, 21, from Barrowford, was spotted by the circus troupe, while she was performing at the Millennium Dome as an aerial acrobat.

But Collette's talent was first noticed by Disney, who snapped her up on a six-month contract before Cirque du Soleil got the chance.

And now Collette's contract with EuroDisney in Paris has finished, the Canadian-based company has given her the chance to work for them for two years, touring North America and Europe.

Collette's mum Andrea said: "She has done absolutely fabulously.

"When she was younger she saw Cirque du Soleil in London and was mesmerised. She never thought that she would be good enough to join them, let alone get a main part."

Officially Collette, who went to Blackpool and Fylde college to study musical theatre, doesn't start performing with the company until early next year, when a member of the group steps down. Until then she is undergoing rigorous training at a circus school in Montreal.

Andrea said: "She always did gymnastics and ballet as a child, and then when she left there she got a part as a dancer in a Ronan Keating music video. But after that she started with the Millennium Dome, and everything has fallen into place."

Collette, who has one brother, Matthew, who works for British Airways in London, joined dozens of performers at the Dome in 1999. There she performed in front of audiences of up to 10,000, five times a day, starting on New Year's Eve.

Andrea said: "While she was there Disney came and auditioned the aerialists. She got the part of an understudy for Jane, in Tarzan and Jane, and also as a acrobat. We can't believe it. We've got videos of her, and she is so slight. She must have the strength of an ox.

"Cirque du Soleil came to the Dome and auditioned people, and before she left the dome they video-taped them.

"Then Cirque du Soleil got in touch and asked her to send videos of her performances, and she got the part.

"She will be performing with a Russian boy, touring North America with the Dralion show for 12 months."

She added: "They are hoping to go to Europe afterwards. It would be good if she came to England."