A SENIOR student at South Craven School who began her musical life playing the piano has achieved competitive success with a more unusual instrument.

Sinead White, who is in year 13, won the British UK Championship senior musette competition, playing the accordion.

She has been entering music contests on a yearly basis, having started at the age of seven.

A spokesman for her school said: "Sinead has always wanted to play an instrument. She had started with the piano, but having been introduced to the accordion, decided this was the instrument for her.

"Harry Hinchcliffe is her tutor and she combines weekly accordion lessons with studying her A-level subjects of music, dance and business studies.

"In September she is going to York St John College to study music, and no doubt she will continue to enter and win even more competitions."