A LOCAL schoolgirl has been crowned as one of the BBC's Young Choristers of the Year.

Emilia Jaques, 15, who attends Queen Mary's School, near Topcliffe, was named, alongside the boy winner, Cassian Pichler-Roca from Cheltenham.

The competition, hosted by Blue Peter's Radzi Chinyanganya, included two preliminary rounds and a final in the studios of the BBC's Philharmonic Orchestra at MediaCityUK, in Salford.

Since the final was recorded, Emilia, from Ripon, has already taken on her first commission, a CD recording with Cassian and the BBC Philharmonic.

She will also appear on a number of BBC TV and radio programmes in the next 12 months.

Emilia said: "I can't believe it! In the week leading up to the final I was doing everything to make sure that my voice was in tip-top condition.

"On the morning, I woke up with butterflies in my stomach, but very much ready to perform."

Emilia is head chorister and music captain at St Mary's and, until the age of 13, was a chorister at Ripon Cathedral, where she will perform in a carol concert this December