An 11-year-old girl has been recruited to join a top performing arts training scheme.

Chloe Pritchard, from Seaford, will join the Performers’ College Elite Associates programme - despite applying a year before she was eligible.

The youngster, who studies at Lewes Old Grammar School, will now receive tutoring from performing arts professionals at the prestigious school. The Performers College has previously produced performers who have appeared in the West End and at Glastonbury.

Kiran Pritchard, Chloe’s mum, said: “We are super proud of Chloe to have been asked to do this, despite being a year younger than the others.

“She is very, very lucky indeed to have got into such a prestigious dance college.”

Chloe has already had her first taste of the stage as part the cast of Shrek: The Musical at the Theatre Royal in Brighton. She is also set to have a role in Grease, performing at the Old Market in Hove from Tuesday, October 25, to Saturday, October 29.

She applied with an online audition which involved performing across several dance genres. She will now receive monthly training as part of the college’s elite training programme which will include lessons in dancing, acting, singing and musical theatre.