PARENTS and students at a "fame academy" are divided over the sucessful suing of its proprietor for £34,000.

The Christine Holmes's Academy of Performing and Recording Arts, at Maudes Meaburn was last week ordered to pay £33,680 compensation plus costs to former student Veronica Kirby, 22.

Some students now at the school have defended Mrs Holms's reputation but parents of other former students are considering legal action following the judgement.

Lancaster County Court heard Mrs Holmes told wannabe pop stars at the £9,750-a-year school to "lose weight", "wear more makeup" and replaced a respected drama teacher with a local magician.

But a group of students have mobilised support for the embattled Mrs Holmes, organising a press conference.

One of the students, Christina Tomlin, 17, who is in the middle of a two-year course at the academy, said: "The course was more than value for money - it was a bargain."

She said she was now concerned there might be nothing left to go back to in September.

However, Wendy Edwards, whose son Ross attended the academy, said: "If we could get legal aid, we would sue because we are still paying our debts for the course."

Erica Thornton, also 22, who finished a course at the academy this year, said she had spoken to a solicitor about suing Mrs Holmes, who claims to have written the lyric's to Cliff Richard's hit Devil Woman.

Miss Thornton added that she was thinking about removing all reference to Mrs Holmes's academy from her curriculum vitae.

Dana Talbot, 22, who studied with Miss Kirby, said: "It's excellent news that we've finally won the battle with Christine. The course destroyed my hope of becoming a singer."

Speaking after the judgement by His Honour Judge Mahon, Miss Kirby said she was "very, very happy".

Miss Kirby claimed there were multiple failings with the course, run in a large picturesque home, which she believed was a one-year singing diploma.

Miss Kirby's barrister, Dr Paul McCormick, said the course was "a chaotic shambles", with no curriculum, no syllabus and only occasional handwritten timetables.

The court heard no individual singing lessons, no sheet music and none of the advertised international masterclasses were provided in the five weeks Miss Kirby attended.

Mrs Holmes was not in court to hear the judgement and was unavailable for comment.