A young Bradford actress is aiming for the big time after landing a leading role in a prime-time TV drama.

Anna-Marie Heslop, 23, was discovered when producers from ITV's The Bill, visited mind the... gap in Manningham, one of the UK's leading theatre companies working with disabled artists.

Anna-Marie, who has Down's Syndrome, caught their eye during the visit, and she was invited to audition for a part in the show.

The actress, from Low Moor, beat off stiff competition from four others and now, after completing two weeks of filming, her episode is in the can and ready to be screened on ITV1 next Thursday at 8pm.

She plays a teenager called Shauna who is reported missing from home and is later found in a distressed state by police officers Dave Quinnan and Polly Page.

Despite protests from her mum, the terrified youngster is examined by a doctor and found to be pregnant.

The hunt is then on to trace the baby's father and questions are asked such as was it rape? And will Shauna want to keep the baby?

"I have always loved acting," said Anna-Marie, who has previously worked with Robson Green, in a one-off ITV drama Rhinoceros.

"I did plays when I was in nursery and through school, then I found out about mind the... gap and I have completed a three-year training course.

"Now I am working with six other people on setting up our own theatre company.

"Acting has helped my confidence and helped me develop skills. It was brilliant working on The Bill, which I have always watched. My favourite characters are Dave Quinnan and Polly Page and now I have worked with them.

"My plot line is really good and even though I was nervous at first I was really confident as well."

Now Anna-Marie, of Sal Royd Road, is looking forward to seeing her finished performance on the small screen.

"Acting has given me confidence in myself. I just want to be seen as a person in my own right, doing a good job," she said.

A spokesman for the programme said: "Everyone thought she was really good and she knew her lines better than the others. She arrived word perfect on the first day.

"It is controversial because the episode deals with her sexuality as well as her plight."