A member of the Gwent Young People's Theatre has won a place at the prestigious Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol.

Sarah James, 19 from Cresta Road, Abergavenny, beat off hundreds of applicants and will study on the three year professional stage management course which starts in September.

The A-level chemistry, maths and physics student from Crickhowell High School was given one of just 16 places.

She said: "I'm ecstatic, it's quite a shock I got in as normally it takes a few attempts. But I want to work in theatre and then hopefully go on to television and film.

"I love the special effects in James Bond films, the car scenes and explosions. I would love to work on things like that in the future."

She put the offer down to the experience she has gained with GYPT.

She enrolled as an actress and appeared in several productions before switching to the stage management and technical crew in 2004.

She added: "I'm thrilled to have the chance to study further a profession I love. Being a member of GYPT has been great fun, I have not only made a lot of good friends in the theatre, but learnt a lot as well."

Miss James worked as a voluntary member of the technical staff at the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny and in October 2007 was asked to be sound technician for Crickhowell High School's production of Les Miserables.

She was also involved in GYPT's recent production of A Christmas Carol.

The Old Vic Theatre School was opened in 1946 and provides vocational training for the arts and entertainment industry.