A Bexleyheath schoolgirl is riding high in a national singing competition.

Ellie Manning, 17, has won a place in the area finals of the Open Mic UK contest which means she will perform live in a Middlesex theatre next month.

She started singing and developing her own songs from the age of 10 and is hoping to study songwriting at university as of next year.

The Townley Grammar School sixth former said: “It feels great because I've performed my own songs at each stage of the competition, so the positive feedback doesn't just complement my voice but my music.

"This is what I want to do professionally, so it's amazing for my confidence.” 

The Open Mic UK competition searches for unsigned talent in the UK, and travels the country every year in search for the UK’s best singers, singer-songwriters, rappers and vocalists of all genres.

Visit openmicuk.co.uk or follow @EllManning on Twitter.