A nine-year-old Battersea schoolgirl has sung her way to a lead role in a West End musical - and the finals of a national talent competition.

Jasmine Thompson, who goes to Newton Prep in Battersea, was one of the last few standing out of 2,000 girls from all over the country who attended three days of auditions for a production of Annie – and has been offered the part of July, one of Annie's friends at the orphanage.

She now faces months of rehearsals before the show opens at the Bloomsbury Theatre next Easter. "But I'm determined not to neglect my homework," she said.

However, she's already rehearsing for this month's UK South-East final of Open Mic - Britain's largest music competition for unsigned artists. Jasmine has already impressed a panel of music industry judges at two regional rounds – and if she makes it through this show – being held at Beck Theatre, in Hayes, on November 20 – she will be performing on one of Britain's biggest stages - the O2 arena - in the national grand final.

Based on information supplied by Andrew Mayers.