SHE'S an award-winning twinkle-toed ballet dancer — and a talented rugby player.

Alicia Carling swapped her dancing pumps for rugby studs and found she shined just as well on grass as she ever did on stage.

Now Alicia, 10, is urging other girls to follow her unusual lead and take up rugby.

The Sacred Heart RC Primary pupil has won a number of trophies for ballet and regularly competes at dance festivals across East Lancashire.

But she also enjoys turning out for Pendle Phoenix at tag rugby at Hodge House playing fields in Nelson.

Her mother Bernadine Carling, of Fothergill Street, Colne, said: “She just enjoys her sport.

“It is really good fun and good exercise for her. The ballet dancing gives her the speed and athleticism she needs for rugby along with the co-ordination as well.”

Her little brother Alexander is also getting in on the act, with the seven year-old also trying his hand at ballet and rugby.

Alicia is a member of the Lancashire Dance Academy run by Lindsay Kirk and based in Barrowford.

Mrs Carling added: “She plays tag rugby at the moment but when she moves up to high school she will have to play for a girls team.

“But there aren’t enough young girls playing at the moment so if anyone would like to take part they should get in touch with Pendle Phoenix.”

This Friday Alicia is taking part in her own version of the World Cup when she captains her school side in a tag rugby tournament for Burnley and Pendle schools at Hodge House.