THREE young dancers from a Worcester performing school were just beaten at the finals of a national ballet contest.

The youngsters, who are all members of Harlequin Stage School, based at Perdiswell Young People's Leisure Club, were competing for the Young Dancer 2008 title in the Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition last weekend.

Lauren McEneaney, 11, and 13-year-olds Holly Adams and Thomas Edwards secured their places in the finals after the third of four regional heats at Birmingham Hippodrome.

The final was held at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London on Sunday, but the three Worcester dancers were beaten to the top spot.

Paula Dymock, who runs Harlequin Stage School, said: "There could only be one winner and unfortunately it wasn't one of ours, but they did so well and had a great time."

She added: "To get three dancers in to the final was a huge achievement and I congratulate them."

Held biennially, the Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition is the Royal Academy of Dance flagship national event, presented in association with the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation, the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation, and with the support of International Dance Supplies.