A Cross Hills teenager has become the first from the North of England to be accepted for accordion studies at the country's top music college.

Richard Smith will join a Yugoslavian boy, ranked as the third best player in the world, as one of just two accordion players at the Royal Academy.

Richard, 17, who lives at Cross Hills Post Office, will study for a performance degree under the leading accordion tutor Owen Murray.

Richard was encouraged to apply for a place by Professor Murray after he adjudicated at a regional accordion championship in Sutton.

The teenager bought Professor Murray's CD and was inspired to follow his lead towards the classical side of accordion playing.

Richard says the accordion is a "young" instrument - no more than 200 years old - and instrument makers are still perfecting its manufacture.

He says: "People think of the accordion as a folk instrument, but it's also an orchestral instrument.

"Modern composers are using it more.

"There's now a lot more orchestral stuff for the accordion.

"It's an important part of a performance degree to work with new composers."

Richard, a former student at Ermysteds School, Skipton, is currently studying A-levels in music and information technology at Nelson and Colne College.

Over the past few months Richard travelled to the Academy in London several times to take lessons with Professor Murray in preparation for his audition.

Richard's accordion tutor is Harry Hinchcliffe, who runs the Craven School of Music in Cross Hills.

Mr Hinchcliffe says Richard quickly progressed through examination grades and is due to take grade eight this month.

Richard took a GCSE in accordion at school, with support from the Craven School of Music's intermediate group, and achieved one of the highest marks in the session at Ermysteds.