A BUDDING ballerina may have to turn down a place at a top dance school - because of the high cost.

Clarie Stott, 12, is among a handful of hopefuls to be picked to join the prestigious Hammond School in Chester.

But the £11,000 a year fees may dash her hopes of realising her dreams. The race is now on to raise cash so Claire can become a pupil in September.

Mum Margaret has been busy writing to firms asking for sponsorship, but has met with no joy as many will not back individuals. She has even put pen to paper to highlight Claire's plight to Education Secretary Gillian Shephard.

Mrs Stott said Claire was "over the moon" to be selected for the Hammond after an audition and entrance examination and had set her heart on going.

She went on: "We will try our very best to enable her to go and if she can't, it wont be through lack of trying. But, we can't afford £11,000." Mrs Stott added she had even considered getting a job in Chester and driving the 120-mile round trip daily from the family home on Sandown Road, Haslingden, so that Claire could attend the Hammond as a day pupil.

The school, a registered charity, specialises in ballet, but does not receive government help like the famous Royal Ballet School. It stopped its scholarship scheme two years ago.

Claire, who lives with mum, dad David and brother Andrew, 14, is currently a pupil at Haslingden High School. She has attended the Freelance Dance Studio in Bury for about three years and has already got many trophies and medals under her belt.

One of her teachers at Freelance, Miss Wendy Heywood, said Claire was a very dedicated and conscientious dancer and had "blossomed" over the last two years.

Anyone who can help can contact the Stotts on 01706 225517.

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