A TEENAGER from South Lakeland has outperformed almost 9,000 others to sing her way to the semi-final of a national singing competition.

Grace Heap, 18, of Grange-over-Sands, has made it through two gruelling heats after impressing TeenStar judges - and just one more round now stands between her and the grand final, at the O2 Arena in London.

“It’s quite overwhelming,” said the former Cartmel Priory pupil, who is a member of Grange Opera.

“I wasn’t really expecting to get through this round but I’m very excited about the next bit and hope I can do well in that too.”

Grace, who attends sixth form at Ripley St Thomas in Lancaster, got through an initial first round of heats, which around 9,000 people entered.

And after performing ‘Bound To You’ by Christina Aguilera at the regional final, she became one of just 12 ‘late teens’ chosen to progress to the area final, which will take place in May with entrants from the whole of the North West and Scotland.

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“I’m so proud of her,” said mum Ann Heap.

“She’s done so well and worked so hard and now she fully deserves to get through to the final.”

The winner of the grand final will take away time in a recording studio, ‘music development’ classes and £5,000 to spend on the development of their act.

The competition was won last year by Luke Friend, who went on to X Factor.