AN 18-year-old girl is looking forward to an exciting new year as she leaves Worcestershire to become a performer in Disn-eyland Paris.

Rachel MacLaren took part in an audition attended by about 100 youngsters to become one of less than a handful chosen to dance in parades and shows and perform as a Disney character - mainly Snow White but also Belle and Cinderella.

She answered an advertisement for the job in the Stage newspaper and auditioned at Dance Works in central London.

She was offered an open-ended contract after an all-day audition, which involved dancing and wearing the costumes, wigs and make-up of the Disney Princess characters.

The former pupil of Worc-ester's Bishop Perowne High School, from Suckley, near Worcester, said: "I am so excited to be part of this magical world. I will miss my family very much but this is such a wonderful opportunity. I get to do the work I love and I'm also earning a living." Rachel, who is currently dancing in Worcester Swan Theatre's Aladdin pantomime, has just completed a two-year national diploma in performing arts at Worcester College of Technology and has been a regular performer on the city's theatrical scene.

She was a member of Worc-ester Operatic and Dramatic Society's Youth Section for eight years, and at the age of 16, became the youngest member of a new musical on a tour of the UK. She took part in Jail Break, run by Christian Music Ministries, which retold the gospel story of Paul and Silas in Philippi and ran for 50 performances, culminating in one at Birmingham's Symphony Hall.

Rachel leaves for France on Friday, January 4.