YORK'S most celebrated actor receives a great honour today, just as one of the city's younger performers heads for the London stage.

Dame Judi Dench is being awarded with a BAFTA Academy Fellowship, which recognises the great contribution she has made to acting in a long and glittering career.

Chris Pearse, a 17-year-old student at York Sixth Form College, may be at the other end of the acting spectrum, but he is making a good start. He will appear at the Royal Opera House for two weeks as part of a National Youth Music Theatre production.

A round of applause is due to both of them.

Updated: 10:46 Monday, December 10, 2001