Claudia, 11, wins place in West End Billy Elliot

A GUERNSEY dancer will today fly to the UK to start rehearsals for a West End musical.

Claudia Cooney, 11, has been selected from hundreds of young girls from across Britain to play a dancer in the musical Billy Elliot.

She will be playing Judy Hope, one of the girls in the class in which the title character learns to dance.

'It is very exciting and a fantastic opportunity,' she said.

'I will be sad to be leaving Guernsey, but I will keep in touch with my friends.'