HOLLIE Steel was heralded as 'officially the bravest girl in the world' after battling back to get through to the Britain's Got Talent final.

Hollie, 10, of Huncoat, broke down in tears tonight through nerves during her performance of Edelweiss from the Sound of Music.

During dramatic scenes on the live ITV1 show, she desperately asked for the chance to perform again.

Initially presenters Ant and Dec told them there was no time. But then Simon Cowell told Hollie, who grew up in Burnley, that they would find time.

And around 20 minutes later she came back and gave a superb performance.

Simon Cowell told her: “You are now officially the bravest girl in the world.”

Fellow judge Piers Morgan described it as 'one of the most gutsiest things he had ever seen'.

After the public vote, the judges put the Oak Hill College, Whalley, pupil into tomorrow's final.

She will now compete for a chance to perform in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Show later this year.