A LUCKY and talented Lytham schoolgirl is drinking from the cup of success after making a break into the glamorous world of television as well as impressing judges closer to home at Blackpool Music Festival.

Sacha Croston, of Islay Road, Lytham, has just been selected from hundreds of young hopefuls to star in ITV's children's drama The Ward being screened this month.

The ten-year-old had to go through a series of testing auditions at Granada Studios in Manchester before finally being given the part by ITV bosses.

In the programme, Sacha, a pupil at Hall Park County Primary, plays a Spice Girl auditioning to be on the hospital radio station.

And if that wasn't enough, Sacha has also been chosen to star in the Girl's World advertisement, after attending another audition held in London.

In the advert, which is being shown until Christmas, Sacha has to give her best smile for the cameras while brushing a doll's hair and putting make up on it.

Speaking about her new-found, fame Sacha said: "When I found out I had been chosen I was amazed. Since then I have been more excited than nervous."

Closer to home, Sacha swept the board at Blackpool Music Festival when she won five trophies for her reading, singing and reciting. Headteacher of Sacha's school, Christine Jenkins, said: "In the poetry class Sacha gave a clear and expressive rendering of Intelligence Test by Vernon Scanell and was equally impressive with her improvisation.

"Good mouth shapes, clear diction and tuneful singing of Callers and The Pigeons won her first place in both classes." Sacha's mum, Tracey, said she was tremendously proud of her daughter but added: "She is a very down to earth ten-year-old who does normal things like fighting with her brother. She is just a girl who has worked hard at something she loves and these are the results."

Sacha said she was enjoying her current success and added: "My ambition is to be an actress or a singer."

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